Last posted on in January, now further detail is emerging of the study into
inflammatory bowel disease;
Should the TST be replaced by the IGRA for screening for latent TB in IBD patients?
The advantages of the QFT-G-IT include its high specificity for detecting M. tuberculosis, the lack of influence exerted by previous BCG vaccination, and its lower susceptibility for false negative results compared to TST in patients under immunosuppressive therapy.
The lack of false positive results omits unnecessary controls and therapies; furthermore, a second visit for reading the test result is not necessary. The cost-effectiveness of screening for latent infection with IGRA instead of TST has been demonstrated (43, 44).
The disadvantages of the QFT-G-IT are the requirements of a validated laboratory and a demanding logistic system for transport and storage.
Based on the abovementioned findings, we recommend performing an IGRA in every IBD patient, at least in those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy who will receive anti-TNFα treatment
