Quantiferon-TB Gold: Performance for Ruling out Active Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Adults with High CD4 Count in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test for active tuberculosis (TB) in HIV adults, and its variation over time in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and/or isoniazide preventive therapy (IPT). METHODS: Transversal study and cohort nested in the Temprano ANRS 12136 randomized controlled trial assessing benefits of initiating ART earlier than currently recommended by World Health Organization, with or without a 6-month IPT. Performance of QFT-GIT for detecting active TB at baseline in the first 50% participants, and 12-month incidence of conversion/reversion in the first 25% participants were assessed. QFT-GIT threshold for positivity was 0.35 IU/ml. RESULTS: Among the 975 first participants (median baseline CD4 count 383/mm(3), positive QFT-GIT test 35%), 2.7% had active TB at baseline. QFT-GIT sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for active TB were 88.0%, 66.6%, 6.5% and 99.5%. For the 444 patients with a second test at 12 months, rates for conversion and reversion were 9.3% and 14%. Reversion was more frequent in patients without ART and younger patients. IPT and early ART were not associated with reversion/conversion. CONCLUSION: A negative QFT-GIT could rule out active TB in HIV-infected adults not severely immunosuppressed, thus avoiding repeated TB testing and accelerating diagnosis and care for other diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00495651.