Abstract:

Procedure of tuberculin skin test-interferon-gamma release assay two-step testing (T/CHATA 016-2021) is a social organization standard issued by Chinese Antituberculosis Association on July 9th, 2021. This document clarifies the related term and definitions, target populations, operation process, interpretation and disposal suggestions of detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection by tuberculin skin test-interferon-gamma release assay (TST-IGRA) two-step testing. It is applicable to disease prevention and control institutions at all levels, designated medical institutions for tuberculosis, primary medical institutions, comprehensive medical institutions and other relevant institutions in China. As a supplement to the technical specification of MTB infection detection, this article provided a detailed interpretation of the main content and precautions in the implementation, so that the TST-IGRA two-step method could be better applied to the practice of MTB infection detection by medical staff.

Key words: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Infection, Skin tests, Interferons, Immunologic tests