A new rapid point-of-care test shows promise for detecting latent tuberculosis (TB) in resource-limited settings. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, in collaboration with colleagues in Vietnam, conducted a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Tuberculosis, one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally, requires effective screening methods to identify latent infections and prevent the development of active disease.
Currently, the standard method for diagnosing latent TB is the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus laboratory test. This procedure is complex, requiring advanced laboratory infrastructure and trained personnel, which limits its use in areas with high TB prevalence. The test can take between one to two days to yield results, making timely intervention difficult.
In a bid to address these challenges, the researchers compared the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test with a new rapid test, TB-Feron, which provides results in just 15 minutes without the need for specialized facilities or expertise. The study involved 345 adult participants in Hanoi, Vietnam, divided into three groups: individuals with confirmed TB, household members of those with infectious TB, and individuals with no known exposure to TB.
The findings reveal that TB-Feron has a sensitivity of 88 percent, effectively identifying most individuals with expected positive results. In comparison, QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus achieved a sensitivity of 92 percent. While TB-Feron’s specificity, or its ability to accurately identify healthy individuals without TB, was moderate at 70 percent, QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus demonstrated a higher specificity of 96 percent.
Among household contacts, the concordance between TB-Feron and the established test was notably high, with 92 percent agreement for positive samples. This indicates that TB-Feron may be particularly effective in environments with a significant TB burden.
Dr. Han Thi Nguyen, a pulmonologist and doctoral student at the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and the first author of the study, expressed optimism about the test’s potential. “The rapid results make it patient-friendly and easy to use in primary care settings,” Nguyen noted.
The researchers also assessed the test’s reliability by comparing results from two different groups with laboratory staff, finding no systematic differences. This suggests good reproducibility of the TB-Feron test.
Last author Dr. Lina Davies Forsman, a researcher at the same department, emphasized the importance of this advancement. “This test can help more people with latent tuberculosis to be detected and receive preventive treatment, especially in rural areas in countries with limited resources,” she stated.
The findings of this study represent a significant step forward in the effort to control tuberculosis, particularly in regions where resources are scarce. By facilitating quicker diagnosis and treatment, TB-Feron could play a crucial role in reducing the spread of this potentially deadly disease.
For more details, the full study can be found in Clinical Infectious Diseases, with the reference: Nguyen, H. T., et al. (2025). Diagnostic Accuracy of the STANDARD F TB-Feron FIA Assay for Tuberculosis Infection in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaf561.
