False-negative interferon-γ release assay results in active tuberculosis: a TBNET study

Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide [1]. Rapid identification of contagious tuberculosis patients and effective treatment are necessary to prevent the spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative bacterium of the disease. Although interferon- gamma release assays (IGRAs) have been developed for the diagnosis of latent infection with M. tuberculosis, these assays are sometimes used as adjunctive tests in the diagnostic workup for active tuberculosis, despite poor specificity [2].