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3209519 
Journal Article 
Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis by ELISPOT assay and tuberculin skin test 
Du, F; Zhang, Z; Gao, T; Liu, Z; Jia, H; Xing, A; Du, B; Sun, Q; Cao, T; Zhang, Z 
2016 
1 
Medecine et Maladies Infectieuses
ISSN: 0399-077X 
English 
27021933 
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in college students.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four hundred and twenty newly admitted college students were enrolled. The Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSpot assay (ELISPOT) was used. Overall, 171 students with ELISPOT assay+/TST+ were monitored for three years to detect active TB disease.

RESULTS: The overall positive rate of ELISPOT assay was 40.7% among TST+ students. The ELISPOT positive rates were 36.9%, 45.4%, and 64.3% in groups of TST induration of 10-14mm, 15-20mm, and ≥20mm, respectively, with a significant difference (χ(2)=10.136, P<0.01) but no significant difference between BCG scar and no scar (41.2% vs. 38.8%; P>0.05). None of the 171 untreated students contracted active TB within the three-year monitoring period.

CONCLUSION: The LTBI rate might be overestimated by TST compared with interferon-γ release assays. On the basis of a close monitoring, few students developed active TB despite a positive result to the TST and ELISPOT assay.