EVALUATION OF INF-γ SECRETED BY T CELLS IN DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest infectious diseases worldwide. The only method available for TB infection detection has been the tuberculin skin test (TST). Still, this tool has not proved itself as a sensitive method, especially when applying it to population previously vaccinated with BCG. Newly developed blood tests, based on detection of interferongamma (IFN-γ) secreting T cells responding to M. tuberculosis antigens,
may prove themselves as more rapid, specific and sensitive methods for TB infection detection.