Guideline Development Group meeting on M. tuberculosis antigen-based skin tests (TBST) for the diagnosis of TB infection

Overview

A new class of M. tuberculosis antigen-based skin tests (TBST) have been developed combining the simpler skin-test platform used in tuberculin skin tests (TST) with the specificity of blood-based interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) that use M. tuberculosis specific antigens. Emerging evidence suggests that compared to IGRA, the tests may have similar specificity and provide more reliable results in children and in HIV-infected cohorts. However, the evidence has not been systematically reviewed.