The AIMTB rapid test assay is an emerging test, which adopted a fluorescence immunochromatographic assay to measure interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production following stimulation of effector memory T cells in whole blood by mycobacterial proteins. The aim of this article was to explore the ability of AIMTB rapid test assay in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection compared with the widely applied QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) test among rural doctors in China. In total, 511 participants were included in the survey. The concordance between the QFT-Plus test and the AIMTB rapid test assay was 94.47% with a Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ) of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79–0.90). Improved concordance between the two tests was observed in males and in participants with 26 or more years of service as rural doctors. The quantitative values of the QFT-Plus test was higher in individuals with a result of QFT-Plus-/AIMTB+ as compared to those with a result of QFT-Plus-/AIMTB- (p < 0.001). Overall, our study found that there was an excellent consistency between the AIMTB rapid test assay and the QFT-Plus test in a Chinese population. As the AIMTB rapid test assay is fast and easy to operate, it has the potential to improve latent tuberculosis infection testing and treatment at the community level in resource-limited settings.

Tuberculosis (TB) rates in the UK have increased by about 25% over the last 20 years. About 12% of cases occur in those over 65. Their diagnosis and treatment is similar to that of younger patients, but their presentation is often atypical, diagnosis is often delayed, there is a higher frequency of treatment side-effects and there is greater potential for drug interactions. Mortality increases markedly with age and more than half of those aged 80 years or more die before completing treatment. About 75% of TB in older patients is due to reactivation of latent disease acquired in childhood. The risk of reactivation is particularly increased by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) medication. Active disease spreads by the inhalation of airborne droplets, particularly in enclosed environments such as nursing homes. Interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) are an important new development in recognizing latent infection. They should allow better targeting of treatment in those with recently acquired infection, or who are at risk of reactivation. With appropriate effort it should be possible to substantially reduce TB rates to fewer than 1 per million per year, the current US target.