Interferon-γ releasing assay versus tuberculin skin testing for latent tuberculosis infection in targeted screening programs for high risk immigrants

Background Recent immigrants from developing countries (<2 years since immigration) are at very high risk of active TB disease due to reactivation of latent infections acquired in the country of origin. In industrialized low-incidence TB countries targeted testing programs for high risk groups could allow the detection of latently infected persons who would likely benefit from a course of preventive treatment. In this study we evaluated the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (QuantiFERON TB-gold in tube, QFT-IT) strategies for TB infection screening programs in recent immigrants from highly endemic countries.