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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Dec 22.
Published in final edited form as: Thorax. 2013 Mar;68(3):298–301. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-203247

Table 1.

Challenges in interpreting IGRA results in various clinical settings

Subgroups considered for IGRA testing by NICE Uncertainties of IGRAs
New entrants from high incidence countries Which immigrant subgroups to target?
Contacts of a TB outbreak Healthcare workers graphic file with name emss-75125-i001.jpg What is the meaning of reversion?
Healthcare workers
Adult contacts of active TB cases
Paediatric contacts of active TB cases* graphic file with name emss-75125-i002.jpg False negative rates unknown in high-risk populations
Immunocompromised patients*
Active TB† False negative rates in 15–25%
Active and latent TB: effect of treatment† graphic file with name emss-75125-i003.jpg Increased risk of false negative results
Unsuitable for treatment monitoring
*

NICE recommends testing with both IGRA and the tuberculin skin test.

†

NICE does not recommend IGRA testing but highlights potential uses which are the subject of further study.

IGRA, interferon gamma release assay; NICE, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; TB, tuberculosis.