Chan P.-C.LUAN-YIN CHANGWu Y.-C.CHUN-YI LUKuo H.-S.CHIN-YUN LEELI-MIN HUANGChen C.-J.2021-06-242021-06-2420081027-3719https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-58049213335&partnerID=40&md5=ff294bde3e9fd17b68b53cd0a2666e4bhttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/566548OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of neonatal vaccination with bacille Calmette-Gu?rin (BCG) on tuberculin skin test (TST) reactivity over time and to define the optimal age-specific induration cut-offs to detect latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). DESIGN: TSTs were performed on 783 children aged 3 months to 14 years who had received neonatal BCG. The estimated annual risk of LTBI was derived from TSTs administered to 2504 children aged 7 years who lacked BCG scars. Goodness-of-fit analysis was used to determine the optimal age-specific cut-off values. RESULTS: The effect of neonatal BCG on TST induration waned with age, reaching a nadir at age 6-7 years. This was followed by a rise in TST reactivity. The optimal age-specific TST cut-off values for the detection of LTBI was estimated to be respectively 21, 18, 13 and 10 mm at ages 0-1, 2-3, 4-5 and 6-7 years. There was a close correlation between these new cut-off values with the estimated risk of LTBI for the first 7 years of life (r = 0.93, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of neonatal BCG on TST gradually declines over the first 7 years of life. Our proposed new age-specific TST induration cut-off values could help differentiate between response to BCG and LTBI in young children. ? 2008 The Union.[SDGs]SDG3BCG vaccine; adolescent; age distribution; article; BCG vaccination; child; controlled study; female; human; infant; major clinical study; male; priority journal; tuberculin test; tuberculosis; Adolescent; Age Factors; BCG Vaccine; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis; Vaccinationjournal article190174492-s2.0-58049213335