Health Network Laboratories Lab Handbook Search Page

Print

QuantiFERON-TB Gold

CPT:

86480

Methodology:

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELSIA)

Testing Schedule:

Routine, 1 time per week

Report Available:

2-9 days

Specimen Requirements:

Minimum Volume:

1 mLwhole blood in TB Antigen Tube AND
1 mLwhole blood in NIL Control Tube AND
1 mLwhole blood in Mitogen Control Tube
• 3 tubes MUST be collected and MUST be filled to the black line on the tube.
• DO NOT centrifuge, refrigerate or freeze samples

Special Instructions and/or Comments:

• All 3 tubes MUST be filled to the black line AND SHAKEN AFTER COLLECTION UNTIL FROTHING OCCURS.
• Blood MUST be collected in tubes specific for this test.
• Tubes MUST be maintained at room temperature and delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible
• No more than 15 hours may elapse between time of collection and time of receipt in the laboratory
Tubes can be requested by contacting our Customer Care Department at 610-402-8170.

Reference Range:

Negative, M. tuberculosis infection is NOT likely.

Clinical Utility:

QuantiFERON-TB Gold is approved for use as an aid in diagnosing M. Tuberculosis infection, including both latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and TB disease. The CDC recommends that the Quanti-FERON-TB Gold can be used in place of tuberculin skin testing (TST) in all circumstances. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold test is not affected by previous vaccination with bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and can be used for those patients, unlike the TST.