Click here for more information about laboratory operations and procedures
QuantiFERON Gold TB
| Item | Value | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval req'd? | Yes, inpatients, except liver and kidney transplant service, require approval by ID service | ||||||
| Available Stat? | No | ||||||
| Test code | QNTFP | ||||||
| Performed by | Quest | ||||||
| Sendout? | Yes | ||||||
| Method | ELISA | ||||||
| Collection Instructions | OUTPATIENTS: Samples are not collected by UCSF laboratory staff or at our outpatient facilities. Patients must be referred to a Quest patient service center (LabCorp for Brown & Toland patients) for sample collection and testing. Click here to locate Quest Outpatient service locations Click here to locate LabCorp outpatient service centers INPATIENTS: COLLECT SAMPLE 8 AM - 2 PM ON MONDAY-THURSDAY ONLY. 1. Pick up collection kits from Laboratory Central Processing (Moffitt 5th floor). 2. Collect 1 ml of blood by venipuncture directly into each of the three tubes (Nil, TB Antigen, Mitogen). Fill each tube up to the black mark. Under or overfilling of the tubes may lead to erroneous results. 3. Mix the tubes by shaking vigorously for 5 seconds and label tubes appropriately. 4. Deliver the tubes to the Laboratory Central Processing (5th floor Moffitt) immediately. |
||||||
| Container type | Requires special collection kit available from central laboratory containing:
NOTE: Do NOT underfill or overfill tubes. |
||||||
| Amount to Collect | 3 mL blood, place 1 mL of blood into each tube in the collection kit | ||||||
| Sample type | Whole blood | ||||||
| Preferred volume | 3 mL blood, place 1 mL of blood into each tube in the collection kit | ||||||
| Min. Volume | 3 mL blood, place 1 mL of blood into each tube in the collection kit | ||||||
| UCSF Rejection Criteria | Frozen samples. Improperly collected samples. | ||||||
| Processing notes | CENTRAL PROCESSING STAFF: Accession the samples immediately upon receipt and hand carry to Microbiology in L553. MICROBIOLOGY STAFF: 1. Re-shake tubes immediately prior to incubation. 2. Incubate the 3 tubes in the 36-38C heatblock.for a minimum of 16 hours (no more than 24 hours). 3. Contact ID Service for approval, except if liver or kidney transplant service. If test is not approved by ID, ask microbiology supervisor to credit the test. 4. On the next day after incubation is completed, centrifuge each of the 3 tubes for 15 mins. 5. Place the tubes in the refrigerator in the aliquot room, in the rack inside the tray labeled Send-outs. |
||||||
| Ref Lab Rejection Criteria | Overfilled or underfilled tubes received. | ||||||
| Normal range | Not detected | ||||||
| Synonyms | Tuberculosis; TB; TB skin test; Interferon gamma; IFN gamma | ||||||
| Stability |
|
||||||
| Turn around times | 5-7 days | ||||||
| Additional information | The QuantiFERON test detects the release of IFN-gamma released by whole blood lymphocytes after incubation with tuberculin purified protein derivative and phytohemagglutinin. The test is intended for screening asymptomatic individuals who may be at risk for latent tuberculosis (recent immigrants, prisoners and prison/jail employees) or TB exposure (military, hospital personnel). In these settings it is equivalent but no better than skin testing. QuanitFERON testing may be more specific than skin testing when screening individuals with a history of prior BCG vaccination. It is NOT recommended for use in patients with symptoms of active TB (known to cause decreased IFN-G responses), contacts of patients with active TB, immunosuppressed patients, patients with diabetes, silicosis, chronic renal failure, leukemia, lymphoma, head/neck cancer, lung cancer, s/p gastrectomy or jejunoileal bypass. In these situations skin testing is recommended. |
||||||
| CPT coding | 86480-90 | ||||||
| Last Updated | 4/3/2012 9:34:07 PM | ||||||
| Entry Number | 1061 |
If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667