Outline of interferon gamma release assays clinical application guidelines in different countries

Interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) are new and rapid immunodiagnostic methods of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.Recently 16 countries have already made guidelines of IGRAs used to diagnose Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.The guidelines of IGRAs are made mainly by following different situations:active tuberculosis in adults,latent tuberculosis infection in adults,Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in medical workers and immunosuppressive individuals,Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in children.Different countries have different IGRAs guidelines for different subjects,so according to our national condition,large studies for different subjects should be done in order to get the most scientific and the most effective application principles of IGRAs used to diagnose tuberculosis. Key words: Interferon gamma release assays;  Latent tuberculosis infection;  Tuberculosis; Guideline