Interferon-gamma-release assays: Better than tuberculin skin testing?

Cyndee Miranda1, J Walton Tomford, Steven M Gordon

  • 1Department of Infectious Disease, Medicine Institute, G21, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. mirandc@ccf.org

Although the tuberculin skin test has long been the standard for detecting latent tuberculosis infection, it has many limitations. Interferon-gamma-release assays are gaining acceptance as an alternative. In this paper we present cases to illustrate how these new tests can be used and how to interpret the results.