Tan C.K.Lai C.-C.Chen H.W.Liao C.-H.Chou C.-H.YU-TSUNG HUANGWEI-SHIUNG YANGCHONG-JEN YUPO-REN HSUEH2020-03-272020-03-2720100036-5548https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/480097The aim of this study was to evaluate the support to tuberculosis diagnosis of a new immunological tool, an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay for interferon-γ, in diabetic patients. From March 2007 to January 2008, diabetic patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled in a tertiary care hospital. Data on clinical characteristics of the patients and conventional laboratory results were collected and blood samples were obtained for ELISPOT assay (T SPOT-TB; Oxford Immunotec Ltd, Oxford, UK). A total of 84 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis were recruited. Fifty-one (60.7%) of these patients were considered to have pulmonary tuberculosis, including 42 (50%) with confirmed tuberculosis and 9 (10.7%) with probable tuberculosis. The overall (confirmed and probable tuberculosis) sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the ELISPOT assay were 84.3%, 66.7%, 79.6%, and 73.3%, respectively. The negative predictive value of the ELISPOT assay was significantly higher in patients with adequate glycaemic control (90% vs 56.3%). In conclusion, the ELISPOT assay can provide useful support in diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic patients, especially those with adequate glycaemic control. ? 2010 Informa Healthcare.[SDGs]SDG3gamma interferon; adult; aged; article; blood sampling; clinical study; controlled study; diabetic patient; diagnostic accuracy; enzyme linked immunospot assay; female; glycemic control; human; information processing; lung tuberculosis; major clinical study; male; predictor variable; sensitivity and specificity; tertiary health care; Aged; Diabetes Complications; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Predictive Value of Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis, Pulmonaryjournal article10.3109/00365548.2010.490237205131672-s2.0-77956820971