Which infection is commonly tested with a QuantiFERON-TB Gold test?

The QuantiFERON-TB Gold test is specifically designed to detect the presence of latent or active tuberculosis (TB) infection in individuals. This blood test measures the immune response to specific TB antigens, which are proteins derived from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. When a person has been infected with TB, their immune system reacts to these antigens, allowing the test to identify individuals who may need further evaluation for tuberculosis disease.

Using QuantiFERON-TB Gold is particularly useful as it does not require the patient to return for a reading, unlike the traditional tuberculin skin test (TST). It also avoids false positives associated with prior vaccinations (such as the BCG vaccine) or other non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.

Other conditions listed, like Hepatitis C, Syphilis, and Chlamydia, are tested through different methods and do not involve the detection of tuberculosis infection. These infections have their own specific diagnostic tests tailored to their unique pathogens and mechanisms of infection.