Hi Whitney,
Both IGRAs are vastly superior to TST from an opportunity cost, efficiency, indirect cost, convenience (faster onboarding, less lost work time) etc.
There are a ton of considerations:
QFT can be run in almost hospital lab on a standard ELISA (dynax, evolis) machine with the correct software. It’s commonly run in public health labs and by Lab Corps and other major lab companies. 1 plate holds 26 samples and takes the lab about an hour of lab tech time. The Gov cost is $19 per test. But it needs to be drawn by phlebotomists into the company’s three 1ml tubes. They need to shake it and then incubate it within 8 hours of the draw. After incubation, it doesn’t need to be run for 3 days and the plasma can be stored for 30 days. This is a great OH option because employees are here during the day but it’s not a great bedside patient choice. Because of the incubations, we run QFT Mon-Thurs and grab TSPOTs on Fridays.
TSPOT is a “green-top” in a box, draw into a 9ml LiHep tube (some labs draw 2 tubes) and mail it. Gov cost is $50.15 each. They all fly by FedEx to Memphis so weather and road issues can cause you to lose lots of tests. It’s a ficoll-separation assay that is run by the TSPOT company in their own lab.
QFT is a lot more common in the US and TSPOT in Europe. They are about the same in quality, with a bit higher specificity (trust the negatives) for QFT. Both of them give you results in 2-3 days.
There’s a lot more info to consider.
You could call me any time if you want.
Wendy Thanassi MD
650-380-1131
Wendy.thanassi@va.gov
From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net] On Behalf Of Whitney Shores
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2016 5:48 AM
To: mcoh-eh@mylist.net
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [MCOH-EH] t spot vs. quantiferon gold
Good Morning,
I am currently researching t spot vs quantiferon gold in the hopes of transitioning our facility to one of these. Suggestions, experience, or comments are greatly appreciated.
Whitney Shores RN
Employee Health & Wellness Coordinator
Jackson Hospital and Clinic
Montgomery, AL
Office 293-8939
Fax 293-8929
