Immunologic diagnosis of tuberculosis

Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Jun:30 Suppl 3:S243-6. doi: 10.1086/313868.

Abstract

Evaluation of new vaccines against tuberculosis requires diagnostic tools for accurately identifying asymptomatic individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and persons with active tuberculosis. This article discusses limitations of current methods for the immunologic diagnosis of latent infection and active disease and presents novel approaches to developing skin tests and serodiagnostic assays based on "cocktails" of multiple antigens of M. tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Serologic Tests
  • Tuberculin Test
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial