QuantiFERON Gold Plus TB Test

QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus, 1 Tube - This test is a blood-based interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) used as an aid in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. It is an immune response-based, indirect test for M tuberculosis infection (including disease) and is intended for use in conjunction with risk assessment, radiography, and other medical and diagnostic evaluations. Additional testing is needed to determine if a person who has tested positive has latent tuberculosis (TB) infection or TB disease.

Guidelines recommend testing for individuals who 1) have been exposed to a person with latent or active TB, including the general population and healthcare workers; 2) are from TB-endemic countries, which include most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, and Russia; 3) work in high-risk settings, such as correctional facilities, long-term care (LTC) facilities, nursing homes, and homeless shelters; or 4) have HIV or have an injection drug substance use disorder.

All of these individuals can be tested with either a traditional tuberculin skin test (TST) or an IGRA. However, the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) jointly prefer an IGRA test for individuals who have been vaccinated against bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) or are not likely to return for the follow-up portion of the TST (and in both cases are at least 5 years old and likely to have TB infection and are at low or moderate risk of disease progression, or in whom it has been determined that TB testing is necessary.

TB Blood Test : QuantiFERON Gold Plus

QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus, 1 Tube - is an indirect test for M. tuberculosis infection (including disease) and is intended for use in conjunction with risk assessment, radiography, and other medical and diagnostic evaluations. This test does not differentiate between latent and active TB. Fasting is not required.

Tuberculosis is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States and worldwide. Although this is a treatable and preventable disease, tuberculosis kills millions yearly. That's because most people become ignorant of its symptoms and don't take action until it's too late.

Luckily, it's possible to accurately test for tuberculosis and prevent it from ruining your health. The Quantiferon TB Gold Plus  TB test is an advanced blood test that gives a precise diagnosis. This type of test is more efficient and accurate than other TB tests.

Keep reading to learn more about tuberculosis, the Quantiferon test, and why you might need one.

What Are the Symptoms of Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis can be tricky to diagnose in some cases because it might show no symptoms. For example, many people have TB bacteria, but it's not active. This is known as latent tuberculosis; the virus can stay dormant for years.

When the bacteria become active, you will start to see some symptoms. Tuberculosis affects mainly the respiratory system. It usually spreads easier in developing countries, but developed ones also experience many TB cases yearly.

Here are the most prevalent symptoms of active tuberculosis:

• Unexplained fever
• Night sweats as well as difficulty sleeping
• Excessive tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Involuntary loss of weight
• Regular coughs that last for more than a few weeks and are accompanied by blood
• Feeling chest pain when breathing normally

To let you know, tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease. A mere cough or sneeze is usually enough to spread the virus in the air. Other people might unknowingly breathe the contaminated air and get the TB virus in their system.

However, not everyone develops active TB. Adults with vibrant health and a robust immune system usually develop latent TB and don't show symptoms. Latent TB can still affect your health in the future, but it's much more docile than active tuberculosis.

Who Is More Likely To Develop TB?

As mentioned earlier, cases of TB are more prevalent in low-income countries, so traveling to one of these areas might increase your risk. At the same time, people who smoke cigarettes and consume too much alcohol regularly also have a higher risk of getting active tuberculosis.

Certain health conditions that might affect your immune system could facilitate the development of tuberculosis. For example, certain cancers might weaken your natural defense mechanisms and trigger the TB virus into action.

At the same time, diabetes and malnourishment are also commonly associated with tuberculosis. Having severe kidney diseases is also a precursor to developing tuberculosis, significantly if this is associated with liver problems.

Certain medications that suppress the immune system might predispose you to TB. For example, people receiving treatment for autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk.

Visiting specific regions and countries in the world might predispose you to this dangerous disease as well. For example, countries such as India, China, and Mexico register numerous cases of tuberculosis each year.

The sub-Saharan region and various places in Russia are also on the red list regarding tuberculosis. If you want to visit these parts of the world, ensure that you protect yourself using certain medications and vaccines.

How Is Tuberculosis Diagnosed?

This type of disease can be detected using a series of TB tests. If you experience the symptoms, you are urged to speak with your primary healthcare provider to find ways to treat active tuberculosis. 

There are several methods for testing for TB, including:

• Tuberculin skin test (TST): This test involves injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin and observing the reaction over a few days. A positive response (a raised, hard bump) indicates that the person has been infected with TB bacteria at some point in their life, although it does not necessarily mean they have active TB disease.

• Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA): This blood test measures the immune system's response to TB bacteria. It is more specific than the TST and is less likely to produce false positive results.

• Chest X-ray: This test can show lung abnormalities that TB may cause.

• Sputum smear microscopy: This test involves examining a sample of mucus (sputum) from the lungs under a microscope to look for TB bacteria.

• Culture: This test involves growing TB bacteria from a sample of mucus or other bodily fluid to confirm the diagnosis of TB. It is the most accurate test for TB, but it can take several weeks to obtain results.

However, the most modern and reliable test is the Quantiferon TB Gold Plus test. Here's why:

The Quantiferon TB Gold Plus Test

This is a simple test that requires just a tiny blood sample. The blood sample is analyzed in a laboratory and delivered in a few business days. It's 97% accurate compared to other tests that can return frequent false positives.

This test requires only one visit to the clinic, where you draw blood for analysis. It analyzes certain enzymes and substances in your blood to see if the active tuberculosis virus damages your lungs.

How are QFT-Plus results interpreted?

QFT-Plus is one of the many tools your doctor may use to determine whether a TB infection is present.

There are three possible QFT-Plus results:

• Positive – suggests that TB infection is likely
• Negative – suggests that TB infection is unlikely
• Indeterminate – suggests the need for further investigations or repeat testing

Your healthcare provider will explain your QFT-Plus results to you. In addition to your QFT-Plus effect, your healthcare provider will consider essential information such as your medical history, risk of exposure to TB, and other clinical results that may be ordered.

How Is Tuberculosis Treated?

Once a diagnosis of TB is confirmed, your doctor will work closely with you to establish a treatment routine. Viral ailments are easily treated with antibiotics, but tuberculosis is more difficult to treat. Patients are usually required to follow a treatment protocol of up to 9 months.

Treatment adherence is crucial to cure this disease fully. In most cases, patients require a combination of drugs as prescribed by their doctor. If the treatment protocol is not respected, tuberculosis can become active again and more challenging to treat.

That's because many TB strains are resistant to certain drugs. Some of the TB drugs prescribed by doctors might affect your liver; you need to be aware of this. Quitting smoking is also strongly recommended and part of the tuberculosis treatment procedure. Reducing alcohol intake is also advised, as it weakens your immune system over time.

TB might be prevented by using vaccinations in children. Also, latent TB, if it's discovered, can be treated with a smaller dose of medications. Again, treatment adherence is paramount. Otherwise, tuberculosis might never be cured.

Order the Quantiferon TB Gold Plus Test Today!

Common colds and the flu could make you sneeze and cough regularly. However, if you also see blood on your paper towel, this is usually a sign of TB. So, Get your TB blood test near you and order the Quantiferon TB Gold Plus test from Discountedlabs.com today, and don't let tuberculosis ruin your life!

 

 

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