Evaluation of ALS Assay of TB-SA for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

The study evaluated tuberculosis specific antigen (TB-SA) antibody in lymphocyte supernatant (ALS) assay for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). The mean concentration of TB-SA ALS in PTB patients was significantly higher than that of two control groups (non-PTB patients and healthy subjects, P < 0.001). The area under the curve of the ALS assay were 0.960 (0.904–0.988, PTB vs healthy subjects), and were 0.822 (0.739–0.887, PTB vs Non-PTB patients), respectively. Our data indicated the ALS assay for TB-SA can be used as a screening test and is a useful adjunct to current tests for diagnosis of PTB.

Keywords:

• pulmonary tuberculosis
• mycobacterium tuberculosis
• specific antigen
• antibodies in lymphocyte supernatants
• diagnosis