The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a policy that warns against the use of antibody-based blood tests to diagnose active tuberculosis (TB) infections. The WHO policy refers to serological tests that measure antibodies to TB in serum and does not question the use of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold (QFT) In Tube assay (ARUP test code 0051729), as it is not a serological or antibody-based blood test.
QFT identifies individuals who are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes TB, by measuring responses of white blood cells to TB-specific proteins. QFT offers high specificity and sensitivity, and its effectiveness in TB management has been supported in more than 600 peer-reviewed studies.
According to Cellestis Limited, manufacturer of QFT, “the press release from WHO clearly notes that it refers to serological (antibody-based) blood tests for active TB, and their comments do not apply to Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs) for diagnosing latent TB. This has been confirmed by direct correspondence by WHO to Cellestis.”