Screening for Latent Tuberculosis in Healthcare Workers With Quantiferon-Gold Assay: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Information source: Assuta Hospital Systems
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on October 19, 2009
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Latent Tuberculosis Infection
Intervention: Blood test for Quantiferon-GOLD assay (Procedure)
Phase: N/A
Status: Recruiting
Sponsored by: Assuta Hospital Systems Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
David Shitrit, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Maccabi Health Services
Overall contact:
David Shitrit, MD, Phone: +972 8 946 8617, Email: david_s@mac.org.il
Summary
The ministry of health in Israel requires all health-care workers to undergo screening for
latent Tuberculosis infection (LTBI) prior to starting work. This is based on the Mantoux
skin test, which is notoriously unreliable.
In recent years, more specific and sensitive tests based on interferon-gamma secretion to TB
antigens have come to market, and most current evidence shows that many mantoux positive
persons do not have LTBI. Quantiferon-GOLD is one of these assays.
In this prospective study, we will draw blood for the Quantiferon-GOLD assay in parallel to
conventional testing, and perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of the cost of the
investigation and treatment of LTBI in health-care workers.
We hypothesize that in spite of the cost of screening healthcare workers with
Quantiferon-GOLD tests, the reduction in need for LTBI treatment and associated costs will
render the test cost-effective.
Clinical Details
Study design: Screening, Longitudinal, Defined Population, Prospective Study
Eligibility
Minimum age: 18 Years.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Health care worker undergoing screening for LTBI
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous tuberculosis or treatment for LTBI
- Immunosuppressed due to drug treatment, HIV, organ transplant
- Recent TB contacts
Locations and Contacts
David Shitrit, MD, Phone: +972 8 946 8617, Email: david_s@mac.org.il
Community Tuberculosis service, Rehovot, Israel; Recruiting
Additional Information
Starting date: May 2007
Last updated: May 28, 2007
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