Spot the dog

A casual Google search on Quantiferon can throw up the following;

Sponsored Links

1. Quantiferon-TB Gold

   Accurate TB diagnosis in a simple blood test. www.cellestis.com

2. Oxford Immunotec

   T-SPOT.TB, the world’s most accurate test for diagnosing TB www.oxfordimmunotec.com

3. Quantiferon

   Get Quantiferon Search for Quantiferon www.ask.com

"The worlds most accurate test for diagnosing TB?"

OK, lets have a look at what Western Occupational & Environmental Medical Association say;

Gold Standard = Culture

So thats it, Spot can cross that one off the list.

So are Spot really saying they are more accurate than the gold standard? No way, a quick peek at their website finds that they are somewhat adverse to comparing their product with the gold standard

Among those subjects recruited with active TB; 25 subjects were diagnosed clinically without culture-confirmation (unconfirmed). One result was invalid, leaving 24 for analyses.

Why not compare Spot with culture confirmed TB? (I know, I hate rhetorical questions too)

What they are saying is that our product is great by our standards.

Its like comparing apples with oranges and getting bananas; more tutti frutti from the somewhat beleaguered merchant bankers.