WHO Guidance is Not Applicable to QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT), Used to Test for Latent TB

"A new policy recommendation released on July 20th by the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against the use of serological (blood) tests to diagnose active tuberculosis (TB). Serological tests measure antibodies to TB in serum and are different to QuantiFERON, which measures responses of white blood cells to TB specific proteins."

"QFT is intended as an aid to the diagnosis of TB infection, both active and latent, and does not discriminate between the two conditions. Some media reports have caused confustion around the WHO announcement. The press release from WHO clearly notes that it refers to serological (antibody-based) blood tests for active TB, and thier 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, manufacturers of the QFT."

Metropolitan Medical Laboratory continues to offer QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) as the methodology for TB testing.

Click here for more information on this from Cellestis, manufacturers of QFT.

REFERENCE: www.cellestis.com