BACKGROUND The diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is currently based on the immunological response of T-cells to M. tuberculosis (MTB) antigens. However, the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube assay (QFT) has not yet been evaluated in the Thai adult population. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the diagnostic performance and determine predictors of discordant results between the QF...

BACKGROUND Detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in transplant candidates is very important. The tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are standard immunologic tools for LTBI detection. The aim of this study was to compare the TST results and T-SPOT(®).TB test (a type of IGRAs) in kidney transplant candidates for the screening of LTBI and follow the ...

INTRODUCTION Tuberculin skin test (TST) can be used to identify HIV-infected people who would benefit most from long-term Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT). However, in resource-constrained settings, implementation of TST can be challenging. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of implementing TST for IPT initiation and to estimate the proportion of TST-positive among HI...

INTRODUCTION Both clomiphene citrate (CC) and testosterone supplementation therapy (TST) are effective treatments for men with hypogonadism. We sought to compare changes in symptoms and treatment efficacy in hypogonadal men before and after receiving CC and TST. PATIENTS AND METHODS 52 men who received TST and 23 men who received CC for symptomatic hypogonadism were prospectively followed for...

Diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children by the tuberculin skin test (TST) poses a diagnostic challenge for physicians due to its low specificity and cross-reactivity with nontuberculous mycobacteria and bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Although interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have been shown as novel TST alternatives for diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI) in adults, their effectiv...

The purpose of this prospective, cross-sectional observational study was to compare the tuberculin skin testing (TST) with QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In Tube (QTF-GIT) for the detection of latent tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers (HCWs). The study included 78 volunteers who are HCWs at the same tertiary care teaching hospital for chest diseases and tuberculosis. Participants with active tub...

BACKGROUND While actigraphy has been deemed ideal for the longitudinal assessment of total sleep time (TST) by select groups, endorsement has not been universal and reimbursement is lacking, preventing its widespread use in clinical practice. This study compares longitudinal TST data obtained by actigraphy and logs preceding a clinical evaluation, and secondarily ascertains whether longitudinal...

BACKGROUND Data on the performance of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), QuantiFERON TB Gold In-tube (QFNGIT) and T-Spot.TB, in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) are limited in Southeast Asia. This study aims to compare the performances of the two IGRAs and TST in Thai children with recent TB exposure. METHODS This multicenter, prospective study enrolled children with recent exposure to acti...

BACKGROUND Few studies have examined the validity of administering tuberculosis control measures based on tuberculin skin test (TST) erythema measurement. The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between the erythema and the induration seen following TST and to evaluate the validity of diagnosing tuberculosis infection based on the erythema following TST in school-aged contacts who h...

SETTING Malnutrition and intestinal parasites cause immunosuppression. This may cause false-negative tuberculin skin tests (TST) and failure to identify tuberculosis (TB) infection. OBJECTIVE To assess factors associated with TST positivity and anergy in disadvantaged communities in Peru. DESIGN A study of 212 randomly selected adults: 102 in a rural Amazonian village and 110 shanty town re...