Diagnostic value of T-spot test for tuberculosis infection in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

  Objective   To investigate the diagnostic value of T-spot. TB test(T-SPOT. TB) in diagnosing tuberculosis in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

  Methods   A total of 70 elderly (≥ 60 years old) non-tuberculosis patients, 70 elderly (≥ 60 years old) tuberculosis patients and 70 middle-aged and young (ranging from 21 to 59 years old) tuberculosis patients were included in elderly non-tuberculosis group, elderly tuberculosis group, young and middle-aged tuberculosis group, respectively. The positive rates of T-SPOT. TB, purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin test and TB antibody (TB-Ab) test were compared among three groups.

  Results   The positive rates of T-SPOT. TB in elderly tuberculosis group as well as young and middle-aged tuberculosis group were higher than those in elderly non-tuberculosis group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the elderly tuberculosis group and the young and middle-aged tuberculosis group (P>0.05). The PPD positive rate in the elderly tuberculosis group was lower than that in the young and middle-aged group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the positive rate of TB-Ab between the elderly tuberculosis group and the young and middle-aged group (P>0.05). In elderly tuberculosis group, the positive rate of T-SPOT. TB was significantly higher than that of PPD and TB-Ab tests(P < 0.05).

  Conclusion   T-SPOT. TB plays a significant role in the diagnosis of senile pulmonary tuberculosis, and has a high positive rate.