What is the best screening test for past tuberculosis infection?

Abstract

Interferon-?? release assays (IGRAs) are at least as sensitive as and more specific than the tuberculin skin test (TST) in diagnosing latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI). When screening for LTBI, it is acceptable to use an IGRA in the place of TST. (SOR: A, based on consistent findings from 2 systematic reviews.) In patients with Bacillus Calmette-Gu??rin (BCG) vaccination, an IGRA is preferred over the TST. (SOR: A, based on consistent findings from 2 systematic reviews.)