Comparison of interferon-gamma production between TB1 and TB2 tubes of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus: a meta-analysis

Objectives: CD8 T-cells play an important role in interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production as a host defense against tuberculosis (TB) infection. Therefore, QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) was developed by adding a TB2 tube beside the TB1 tube. This study aimed to compare and analyze the difference in IFN-γ production between the two tubes in general and specific populations. Content: PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO were searched for studies reporting IFN-γ production levels in the TB1 and TB2 tubes. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Summary: A total of 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. The IFN-γ production in the TB2 tube was statistically higher than that in the TB1 tube (mean difference (MD)=0.02, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI): 0.01–0.03). Further subgroup analysis in specific populations revealed that the MD of IFN-γ production between the TB2 and TB1 tubes was significantly higher in active TB subjects than in latent TB infection (LTBI) subjects (MD=1.13, 95 % CI: 0.49–1.77, and MD=0.30, 95 % CI: 0.00–0.60, respectively). A similar finding was found in immune-mediated inflammatory disease subjects, but not statistically significant. Interestingly, IFN-γ production capacity was lower in active TB subjects than in LTBI subjects in each of the TB1 and TB2 tubes. Outlook: This study is the first to systematically compare IFN-γ production between the TB1 and TB2 tubes. The IFN-γ production was higher in the TB2 tube than in the TB1 tube, representing the host’s CD8 T-cell response magnitude to TB infection.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Comparison of interferon-gamma production between TB1 and TB2 tubes of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus: a meta-analysis ; volume:61 ; number:12 ; year:2023 ; pages:2067-2075 ; extent:09 ; Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine ; 61, Heft 12 (2023), 2067-2075 (gesamt 09)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Darmawan, Guntur ; Liman, Lie Monica Sherine ; Hamijoyo, Laniyati ; Atik, Nur ; Alisjahbana, Bachti ; Sahiratmadja, Edhyana

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2023-0293
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023102616054274639961
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 9:28 AM CEST