Next Generation Tests for Latent Tuberculosis Infection
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Predictive values of next generation interferon gamma release assays for latent tuberculosis infection
IRAS ID
160583
Contact name
Ibrahim Abubakar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Although tuberculosis (TB) rates in the UK have fallen over the last few decades, recently the disease has shown a resurgence. A third of the world's population is estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium which causes TB. The vast majority of these infections are asymptomatic and not infectious (latent tuberculosis infection, LTBI), but these infections can reactivate and cause disease. Blood and skin tests are available to identify people with LTBI, but they have only limited use in predicting which of these people will become ill. If we were able to identify and treat individuals with LTBI at the highest risk of developing symptoms, we could focus treatment on the people who would benefit from it the most.
This research has three main aims. Firstly, it will assess the value of new blood tests in detecting LTBI in people who are at high risk of LTBI due to contact with a person with TB disease, and the ability of these tests to monitor whether treatment for latent infection is succeeding. Secondly, it will investigate their accuracy for detecting TB infection in people with active TB disease. Thirdly, it will estimate the risk of infection with TB during the Hajj Pilgrimage, by testing pilgrims before and after their journey to Saudi Arabia.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1918
Date of REC Opinion
10 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion