Potential role for interferon-γ release assays in tuberculosis screening in a remote Canadian community: a case series.

Background: Current Canadian guidelines suggest that neonatal Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination does not result in false-positive tuberculosis (TB) skin tests, despite a growing body of evidence that interferon-γ release assays may be a more specific alternative in identifying latent tuberculosis infections in vaccinated populations. We set out to evaluate the relationship between TB skin tests and interferon-γ release assays in patients who previously received neonatal BCG vaccine.

Methods: All children with a positive skin test at age 14 years in a remote community north of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, were considered for interferon-γ release assay testing.