Latent Tuberculosis Infection Diagnosis: Re-evaluating the Role of QuantiFERON-TB in the Era of New Technologies
Keywords:
QuantiFERON-TB, Latent tuberculosis infection, Interferon-gamma, Mycobacterium tuberculosisAbstract
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains a global health challenge, with high prevalence in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Western Pacific. Identification of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) individually is essential for preventing disease progression, especially in high-risk groups, for instance, HIV-positive individuals. QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) has effectively emerged as blood test for LTBI diagnosis, offering significant advantages over the traditional tuberculin skin test (TST). This review highlights the strengths of QFT for TB diagnosis. The article explored recent advancements in the field and discussed the promising future of QFT. Comprehensive review, focusing on the benefits and challenges associated with QFT was thoroughly conducted. The review investigated the potential of novel antigens, biomarker integration and wider application in resource-limited settings and high-risk populations. Comparatively, QFT served as a valuable tool for TB control and elimination. Future research and development should involve discovering new antigens and biomarkers, integrating QFT with other diagnostic tools and adopting its use in resource-constrained settings and high-risk groups. QFT has revolutionized LTBI diagnosis. Recognizing its advancements can further enhance QFT role in TB management, ultimately infection control and elimination efforts.
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