QUANTIFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) Test Explained
The QUANTIFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) test is a blood test used to check for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. It’s often recommended for people who may have been around someone with TB or who are at higher risk of exposure, such as healthcare workers or people with weakened immune systems. This test helps detect TB bacteria that may be inactive in the body but could still cause health issues if they become active later on.
How the QFT-Plus Test Works
The QFT-Plus test measures how your immune system responds to TB bacteria. It’s a simple process:
- You only need one blood sample.
- Lab specialists add specific TB proteins to your blood sample to see if your immune system produces a chemical called interferon-gamma, which indicates that your body recognizes TB.
Understanding Your Results
Your test results will typically fall into one of these categories:
- Positive: This means your body has been exposed to TB bacteria. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re sick or can spread TB, but you might need further testing or treatment to prevent it from becoming active.
- Negative: This suggests you haven’t been exposed to TB bacteria, so you’re at low risk for TB infection.
- Indeterminate/Borderline: This result can happen if the sample wasn’t clear enough, or your immune response was borderline. Your doctor might ask for a retest or additional testing.
Benefits of the QFT-Plus Test
The QFT-Plus test is convenient and reliable. Since it only requires a single blood sample, it’s less hassle than the traditional TB skin test, which requires two doctor visits. Also, it’s highly accurate for detecting inactive (latent) TB, which is important to catch early if you’re at risk.
Why This Test Matters
A positive result doesn’t mean you’re sick; it just means your body has encountered TB bacteria. Knowing this early lets you take action to prevent future illness.
QUANTIFERON® -TB GOLD PLUS, 1 TUBE
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