Eastern J Med. 2024; 29(4): 531-534 | DOI: 10.5505/ejm.2024.37630

Comparison of Tuberculosis Skin Testing and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Test in Yazidi Refugees

Recep Tekin¹, Zehra Kýlýnç², Ýsmail Yýldýz³, Günay Saka^2
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkiye
²Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkiye
³Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakýr, Turkiye

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value and performance of of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) test with the tuberculosis skin test (TST) as a screening test for tuberculosis in Yazidi refugees.
METHODS: The study involved 100 adults who had migrated to our country and were currently residing in refugee camp. The Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) screening test was conducted using the Monteoux method and the size of induration above 15 mm with BCG scars and above 10 mm without BCG scars were considered as positive. The QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus test was performed using the interferon-gamma release detection method.
RESULTS: In the study, 49 out of the included individuals (52.1%) tested positive for the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus test, while 59 individuals (62.8%) tested positive for TST. Of the participants, 43 (45.7%) were positive for both TST and QFT-Plus, 9 (9%) were positive for TST but negative for QFT-Plus, and 6 (6%) were negative for TST but positive for QFT-Plus. The study found a positive correlation between the results of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus and TST. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were 82.6% and 85.7%, respectively, when evaluated according to TST.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We can recommend QFT-Plus test for the detection of latent tuberculosis infection as an alternative to TST in refugees populations.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, Quantiferon-TB Gold Plus, Tuberculin Skin Test, Yazidi Refugee

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