Search for: [Abstract = "The diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection \(LTBI\) in Poland is difficult because of obligatory BCG vaccination and low specificity of tuberculin skin test \(TST\). Until recently, BCG vaccination was obligatory after birth and in 1., 6., 12., 18. year\-olds respectively.Revaccinations are the cause of TST positivity for many years after vaccination.Specially threatened by M. tuberculosis infection are the risk groups which include the subjects staying in contact with the tuberculosis patients like\: the close, casual and occasionally contacts.At present, the main role in diagnosis of LTBI, increasingly play the new tests which are based on measurement of interferon\-γ \(IFN\-γ\) which is released to the serum after stimulation by specific, mainly for tuberculosis, antigens.The aim of this work was to asses the prevalence of LTBI by in vitro test QFT\-GIT and by TST in risk groups like\: homeless, close contacts, casual contacts, nursing home pensioners and staff and in healthy subjects randomly choosen from the Crakow's population.The corellations between the results of the tests due to the age and gender of the subjects, between the concentration of IFN\-γ in the serum and TST diameter and between the number of positive QFT\-GIT results and TST diameter were assased. The agreement of the tests and kappa coefficients were analyzed and, by the same, the utility of the QFT\-GIT test in diagnosis of LTBI was assessed in testing risk groups in Poland.From July 2007 to September 2009 were diagnosed by QFT\-GIT 785 subjects from the risk groups\: 150 homeless, 171 close contacts, 163 casual contacts, 152 nursing home pensioners and staff and 149 healthy subjects randomly choosen from the Crakow's population. TST was assessed in 129, 156, 147, 148 and 121 subjects respectively. The special questionnaire about past and present diseases, habits, tbc contacts and symptoms, presence of BCG scar was performed. The physical examination was done to each subject. The QFT\-GIT test was performed strictly according to recommendation of the producer \(Cellestis, Carnegie, Australia\).The blood of the subjects was taken to the three test\-tubes\: coated by specific antigens \(ESAT\-6, CFP\-10, TB7,7\), with positive control \(phytohemaglutynin\), and with negative control. TST \(2 U Rt\-23\) was done on the same day and assessed on the third day by the same, experienced nurse. The result of QFT\-GIT test \(by ELISA\) was established by the standard curve and software in the international units \(IU\). The concentration ≥ 0,35 IU\/ml was interpreted as positive.The high incidence of positive results of QFT\-GIT test in the tested groups was stated\: in the homeless 37%, close contacts 27%, casual contacts 25%, in nursing"]

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