Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Serologic Testing for Tuberculosis

  • Chapter
Tuberculosis

  • 935 Accesses

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one-third of the world’s population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. From this pool, roughly 10 million active TB cases emerge annually, resulting in 2 to 3 million deaths. Early identification and proper treatment of individuals with active TB have a great impact on public health. The bacteriologic methods are either not sufficiently efficient and specific (acid-fast smear) or require an extended turn around time from the laboratory (culture isolation). The development of a rapid nonbacteriologic diagnostic test that is both sensitive and specific for active TB continues to be formidable. This difficulty is due, in part, to the inability of many tests to distinguish latent infection from active disease. This chapter focuses on the current serological methods to diagnose TB.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alde SLM et al (1989) Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using an IgG antibody to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in children. Am Rev Respir Dis 139:748–751

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alifano M et al (1997) Evaluation of IgA-mediated humoral immune response against the mycobacterial antigen P 90 in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Chest 111: 601–605

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amicosante M et al (1995) Evaluation of a novel tuberculosis complex-specific 34 kDa protein in the serological diagnosis of tuberculosis. Eur Respir J 8:2008–2014

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anuradha S et al (2001) Serodiagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis using A-60 antigen. J Commun Dis 33:12–16

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arikan S et al (1998) Anti-Kp 90 IgA antibodies in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. Chest 114:1253–1257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrera L et al (1992) Humoral response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Tuberc Lung Dis 73:187–191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boggian K, Fierz W, Vernazza PL (1996) Infrequent detection of lipoarabinomannan antibodies in human immunodeficiency virus-associated mycobacterial disease. J Clin Microbiol 34:1854–1855

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bothamley GH, Rudd RM (1994) Clinical evaluation of a serological assay using a monoclonal antibody (TB72) to the 38 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Eur Respir J 7:240–246

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bothamley G et al (1992) Serodiagnostic value of the 19 kilodalton antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Indian patients. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 11:912–915

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks JB et al (1987) Selective procedures for detecting femtomole quantities of tuberculostearic acid in serum and cerebrospinal fluid by frequency-pulsed electron capture gas-liquid Chromatograph. J Clin Microbiol 25:1201–1206

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan ED et al (2000) Diagnosis of tuberculosis by a visually detectable immunoassay for lipoarabinomannan. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 161:1713–1719

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan SL et al (1990) Serodiagnosis of tuberculosis using an ELISA with antigen 5 and a hemagglutination assay with glycolipid antigens. Am Rev Respir Dis 142:385–390

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charpin D et al (1990) Value of ELISA using A60 antigen in the diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis 142:380–384

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaturvedi V, Gupta HP (2002) Evaluation of integral membrane antigens of Mycobacterium habana for serodiagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis: association between levels of antibodies and Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 33:1–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiang I-H et al (1997) Serodiagnosis of tuberculosis: A study comparing three specific mycobacterial antigens. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 156:906–911

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cocito CG (1991) Properties of the mycobacterial antigen complex A60 and its applications to the diagnosis and prognosis of tuberculosis. Chest 100:1687–1693

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole RA et al (1996) Clinical evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic assay based on the 38 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in China. Tuberc Lung Dis 77:363–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel TM, Debanne SM, van der Kuyp F (1985) Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay using Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 and PPD for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. Chest 88:388–392

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel TM et al (1986) Field evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis 134:662–665

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel TM et al (1994) Reduced sensitivity of tuberculosis serodiagnosis in patients with AIDS in Uganda. Tuberc Lung Dis 75:33–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Del Prete R et al (1998) Detection of anti-lipoarabinomannan antibodies for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2:160–163

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diagbouga S et al (1997) Immunoblot analysis for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis using a 45/47-kilodalton antigen complex of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Clin Diag Lab Immunol 4:334–338

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dogan ÜB, Aksu HSZ (1997) Serodiagnostic value of ELISA in pulmonary tuberculosis in Turkey where tuberculosis is highly prevalent. Respiration 64:73–75

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorken E, Grzybowski S, Allen EA (1987) Significance of the tuberculin test in the elderly. Chest 92:237–240

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Escamilla L et al (1996) Mycobacterium fortuitum glycolipids for the serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 154:1864–1867

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fadda G et al (1992) Serodiagnosis and follow up of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Eur J Epidemiol 8:81–87

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franco J et al (2001) Serological response (Western blot) to fractions of Mycobacterium tuberculosis sonicate antigen in tuberculosis patients and contacts. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 5:958–962

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fulton JD, McCallioin J (1987) Tuberculosis — diagnostic difficulty in the elderly. J Clin Exp Gerontol 9:303–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S, Bhatia R, Datta KK (1997) Serological diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis by estimation of mycobacterial antigen 60-specific immunoglobulins in the serum. Tuberc Lung Dis 78:21–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S et al (1995) Diagnostic Utility of the estimation of mycobacterial antigen A60 specific immunoglobulins IgM, IgA, and IgG in the sera of cases of adult human tuberculosis. Tuberc Lung Dis 76:418–424

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He H et al (1991) Rapid serodiagnosis of human mycobacteriosis by ELISA using cord factor (trahalose-6,6’-dimycolate) purified from Mycobacterium tuberculosis as antigen. FEMS Microbiol Immunol 3:201–204

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hussey G, Kibel M, and Dempster W (1991) The serodiagnosis of tuberculosis in children: an evaluation of an ELISA test using IgG antibodies to M. tuberculosis, strain H37Rv. Ann TropPaediatr 11:113–118

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imaz MS et al (2001) Evaluation of the diagnostic value of measuring IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies to the recombinant 16-kilodalton antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in childhood tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 5: 1036–1043

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Julian E et al (1997) Detection of lipoarabinomannan antibodies in patients with newly acquired tuberculosis and patients with relapse tuberculosis. J Clin Microbiol 35: 2663–2664

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kadival GV et al (1994) Detection of antibodies to defined M. tuberculosis antigen (38 kDa) in cerebrospinal fluids of patients with tuberculous meningitis. Zentralblatt Bakteriol 281:95–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan EA, Starke JR (1995) Diagnosis of tuberculosis in children: Increased need for better methods. Emerg Infect Dis 1:115–123

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khomenko AG et al (1996) Serodiagnosis of tuberculosis: detection of mycobacterial antibodies and antigens. Tuberc Lung Dis 77:510–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korzeniewska M et al (1994) Tuberculosis in young adults and the elderly. Chest 106:28–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawn SD, Frimpong EH, Nyarko E (1997) Evaluation of a commercial immunodiagnostic kit incorporating lipoarabinomannan in the serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Ghana. Trop Med Int Health 2:978–981

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luh KT et al (1996) Tuberculosis antigen A60 serodiagnosis in tuberculous infection: application in extrapulmonary and smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis. Respirology 1:145–151

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma Y, Wang YM, Daniel TM (1986) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 5 for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in China. Am Rev Respir Dis 134:1273–1275

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maekura R et al (1993) Clinical evaluation of rapid serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by ELISA with cord factor (trehalose-6,6’-dimycolate) as antigen purified from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis 148:997–1001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maekura R et al (2001) Clinical evaluation of anti-tuberculous glycolipid immunoglobulin G antibody assay for rapid serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. J Clin Microbiol 39:3603–3608

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McConkey SJ et al (2002) Evaluation of a rapid-format antibody test and the tuberculin skin test for diagnosis of tuberculosis in two contrasting endemic settings. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 6:246–252

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDonough JA et al (1992) Microplate and dot immunoassays for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. J Lab Clin Med 120: 318–322

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meena LS et al (2002) Comparative study of three different mycobacterial antigens with a novel lipopolysaccharide antigen for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. J Clin Lab Anal 16:151–155

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller RA (1996) The aging immune System: primer and prospectus. Science 273:70–74

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris CDW (1989) The radiology, haematology, and biochemistry of pulmonary tuberculosis in the aged. Q J Med 71:529–535

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura RM et al (1998) MPB64 mycobacterial antigen: a new skin-test reagent through patch method for rapid diagnosis of active tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2: 541–546

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ng TT, Strang JI, Wilkins EG (1995) Serodiagnosis of pericardial tuberculosis. Quart J Med 88:317–320

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niculescu D et al (1999) Serodiagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol 58:111–119

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nsanze H et al (1997) Serodiagnosis of tuberculosis and leprosy by enzyme immunoassay. Clin Microbiol Infect 3:236–239

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rasolofo V et al (2000) Predictive values of the ICT Tuberculosis test for the routine diagnosis of tuberculosis in Madagascar. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 4:184–185

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ratanasuwan W et al (1997) Evaluation of the MycoDot test for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in HIV seropositive and seronegative patients. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 1:259–264

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen EU (1990) The diagnostic value of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using adsorbed mycobacterial sonicates in children. Tubercle 71:127–130

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rovatti E et al (1996) Evaluation of a western blot serum test for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Eur Respir J 9:288–292

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sada E et al (1990) Evaluation of lipoarabinomannan for the serological diagnosis of tuberculosis. J Clin Microbiol 28: 2587–2590

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sada E et al (1992) Detection of lipoarabinomannan as a diagnostic test for tuberculosis. J Clin Microbiol 30:2415–2418

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simonney N, Bourrillon A, Lagrange PH (2000) Analysis of circulating immune complexes (CICs) in childhood tuberculosis: levels of specific antibodies to glycolipid antigens and relationship with serum antibodies. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 4:152–160

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simonney N et al (1996) Comparison of A60 and three glycolipid antigens in an ELISA test for tuberculosis. Clin Microbiol Infect 2:214–222

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Somi GR et al (1999) Evaluation of the MycoDot test in patients with suspected tuberculosis in a field setting in Tanzania. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 3:231–238

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steele BA, Daniel TM (1991) Evaluation of the potential role of serodiagnosis of tuberculosis in a clinic in Bolivia by decision analysis. Am Rev Respir Dis 143:713–716

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torres M et al (1994) Comparison of the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens between a group of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy household contacts. Clin Exp Immunol 96:75–78

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turneer M et al (1988) Humoral immune response in human tuberculosis: Immunoglobulins G, A, and M directed against the purified P32 protein antigen of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin. J Clin Microbiol 26:1714–1719

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turneer M et al (1994) Determination of humoral immunoglobulins M and G directed against mycobacterial antigen 60 failed to diagnose primary tuberculosis and mycobacterial adenitis in children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 150: 1508–1512

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Vooren JP et al (1988) A multiblot immunobinding assay for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. J Immunological Methods 113:45–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wadee AA, Boling L, Reddy SG (1990) Antigen capture assay for detection of a 43-kilodalton Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen. J Clin Microbiol 28:2786–2791

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins EGL, Ivanyi J (1990) Potential value of serology for diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Lancet 336: 641–644

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu CJ et al (1992) Evaluation of the A-60 IgG ELISA serodiagnostic test for tuberculosis in Taiwan. J Formosan Med Assoc 91:614–619

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zou YL et al (1994) Serological analysis of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for anti-A60 immunoglobulins. Clin Infect Dis 19:1084–1091

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Program in Cell Biology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA

    Chakradhar Kotaru MD

  2. K613e, Goodman Building, Denver Veteran Administration Medical Center, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO, 80206, USA

    Chakradhar Kotaru MD

  3. K613e Goodman Bldg., National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO, 1400, Jackson St, Denver, CO, 80206, USA

    Edward D. Chan (Associate Professor of Medicine)

Authors
  1. Chakradhar Kotaru MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Edward D. Chan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, 11159, Saudi Arabia

    M. Monir Madkour

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kotaru, C., Chan, E.D. (2004). Serologic Testing for Tuberculosis. In: Madkour, M.M. (eds) Tuberculosis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18937-1_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18937-1_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62365-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18937-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation