We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Combined Tests Improve Tuberculous Meningitis Diagnosis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 21 Feb 2016
Print article
The T-SPOT.TB enzyme-linked immunospot test kit for tuberculosis
The T-SPOT.TB enzyme-linked immunospot test kit for tuberculosis (Photo courtesy of OXFORD IMMUNOTEC - A Revvity Company)
At present, there is no established laboratory test to diagnose early tuberculous meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture sensitivity is low in developing countries and it usually takes several weeks to obtain results with this method.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM), the most severe form of tuberculosis (TB), accounts for 5% to 10% of extrapulmonary TB and 0.5% of systemic TB worldwide. Those who have contracted this disease have a mortality rate of 20% to 41% in developed countries and 44% to 69% in developing countries.

Scientists at Huashan Hospital Fudan University (Shanghai, China) studied a total of 30 patients who were suspected of having TBM, of whom six were clinically diagnosed as having TBM and 24 as probably harboring the disease. These patients included 24 men and six women, aged between 18 and 79 years, with a mean age of 45 years. The diagnostic criteria for TBM were positive acid-fast (AFS) results or positive CSF culture results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

After the first admission of each study participant from the TBM and control patient to the hospital, a 1-mL CSF specimen from each via lumbar puncture was collected. The team also collected cerebrospinal fluid from 10 patients in the TBM group on initial visit and at four weeks, to observe changes. A total of 30 individuals with TBM and 39 control individuals without TBM participated in this study. IFN-γ-secreting T cells were detected by ELISPOT, an enzyme-linked immunospot (T-SPOT.TB, Oxford Immunotec International, Abingdon, UK), and cerebrospinal fluid interferon-γ (cIFN-γ) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The sensitivity and specificity of peripheral-blood T-SPOT.TB testing in the diagnosis of TBM were 70% and 87%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of cIFN-γ (greater than 81.36 pg/mL) for TBM diagnosis was 0.819, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 83% and 85%, respectively. When T-SPOT.TB and cIFN-γ results were positive, the specificity and positive predictive value of TBM diagnosis reached 100%. The consistency is poor between peripheral-blood T-SPOT.TB and cIFN-methods probably due to the factors that could result in false-negative and false-positive results. However, this finding may partially confirm that the combination of these approaches can improve the efficiency of diagnosis of TBM.

The authors concluded that cIFN-γ testing is a rapid, economical, and highly sensitive approach to the diagnosis of TBM. Dynamic observation of cIFN-γ is important for monitoring patients with TBM, a condition that responds well to treatment. Peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB testing for TBM diagnosis is also important. The combination of peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB and cIFN-γ detection can improve overall sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of TBM. The study was published on January 4, 2016 in the journal Laboratory Medicine.

Related Links:

Huashan Hospital Fudan University 
Oxford Immunotec International 


Gold Member
Troponin T QC
Troponin T Quality Control
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
Vaginitis Test
Allplex Vaginitis Screening Assay
New
Lyme Disease Test
Lyme IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get complete access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study investigated D-dimer testing in patients who are at higher risk of pulmonary embolism (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

D-Dimer Testing Can Identify Patients at Higher Risk of Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a commonly suspected condition in emergency departments (EDs) and can be life-threatening if not diagnosed correctly. Achieving an accurate diagnosis is vital for providing effective... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The findings were based on patients from the ADAURA clinical trial of the targeted therapy osimertinib for patients with NSCLC with EGFR-activated mutations (Photo courtesy of YSM Multimedia Team)

Post-Treatment Blood Test Could Inform Future Cancer Therapy Decisions

In the ongoing advancement of personalized medicine, a new study has provided evidence supporting the use of a tool that detects cancer-derived molecules in the blood of lung cancer patients years after... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.