Use of Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay with Mycobacterium tuberculosis- Specific Peptides for Diagnosis of Recent Infection with M. tuberculosis after Accidental Laboratory Exposure

This report of an accidental exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a microbiological laboratory illustrates the value of gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assay using peptides of ESAT-6, CFP-10, TB37.6, and TB7.7 for the diagnosis of latent infection. In particular, positive responses to peptides 2 to 6 of TB37.6 were observed exclusively in recently infected persons.