Objective: To compare the usefulness and the performance of Quanti FERON-TB Gold Test (QFT-G) assays and tuberculin skin test (TST) in patients with active and latent tuberculosis (TB) disease.

Material and Method: Sixteen patients with active, 26 patients with latent TB ve 21 controls were included the study. Blood samples were taken for QFT-GIT before the treatment in patients with active TB and then TST was performed.

Results: QFT-GIT tests were positive in 12 (75.0%) of active TB, in 15 (65.2%) of latent TB patients and in 3 (14.3%) controls. QFT-GIT test was found to be significantly higher in active TB patients and in latent TB patients compare to those of controls (respective p=0.003, p=0.005). Sensitivities of QFT-G were found to be as 75% and specificities 85.7% for active TB and 65.2% and 85.7% respectively for latent TB. When patients with active and latent TB were evaluated sensitivities of QFT-GIT were 75% and specificities 34.8%. The mean TST value was statistically higher in latent TB patients than active TB patients (p=0.001) and in active TB patients than controls (p=0.001). A positive correlation was detected between QFT-GIT test and TST.

Conclusion: Even it was thought that QFT assays have the supplementary role for detection of active and latent TB, specificity of the test for the diagnostic discrimination between active TB and latent TB disease is low. The presence of positive correlation between QFT-GIT and TST and the high quality of QFN-GIT is taking into account in our.