Irandi Putra Pratomo, Darmawan Budi Setyanto

Abstract
The challenge of tuberculosis (TB) remains in diagnosing the disease particularly in the young age group children. Clinical
manifestations of TB in children are usually subtle and are not similar to the adult counterpart because of the pathogenesis of TB
itself. The paucibacillary phase, which is common in children with TB and manifested as latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), have
several immunologic properties. The release of interferon (IFN)-g by blood mononuclear cells in LTBI have been observed and have
been clinically applied as main principle for tuberculin skin test (TST). The test, however, is not specific for Mycobacterium
tuberculosis since it was derived from the proteins of M. bovis. Antigen complex of early secretory antigen target (ESAT)-6 and
culture filtrate protein (CFP)-10 are secretory protein expressed from gene locus of region of difference (RD)-1 specifically from M.
tuberculosis and are interacting with circulatory T-cells which in turn would stimulate the release of IFN-g The laboratory test of
enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) or TSPOT.TB and QuantiFERON®-TB (QTF) are using the principle of IFN-g
release assay (IGRA) and are more specific and more sensitive than TST for diagnosing LTBI and active TB. (J Respir Indo. 2013;
33:66-71)

Keywords: latent tuberculosis infection, ESAT-6, CFP-10, IFN-g release assay, QuantiFERON®-TB

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