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Interpretation of the tuberculin skin test

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To reinterpret epidemiologic information about the tuberculin test (purified protein derivative) in terms of modern approaches to test characteristics; to clarify why different outpoints of induration should be used to define a positive test in different populations; and to calculate test characteristics of the intermediate-strength tuberculin skin test, the probabilityMycobacterium tuberculosis infection at various induration sizes, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and optimal cutpoints for positivity.

METHODS: Standard epidemiologic assumptions were used to distinguish M. tuberculosis-infected from -uninfected persons; also used were data from the U.S. Navy recruit and World Health Organization tuberculosis surveys; and Bayesian analysis.

RESULTS: In the general U.S. population, the test’s sensitivity is 0.59 to 1.0, the specificity is 0.95 to 1.0, and the positive predictive value is 0.44 to 1.0, depending on the outpoint. Among tuberculosis patients, the sensitivity is nearly the same as in the general population; the positive predictive value is 1.0. The area under the ROC curve is 0.997. The probability ofM. tuberculosis infection at each induration size varies widely, depending on the prevalence. The optimal cutpoint varies from 2 mm to 16 mm and is dependent on prevalence and the purpose for testing.

CONCLUSIONS: The operating characteristics of the tuberculin test are superior to those of nearly all commonly used screening and diagnostic tests. The tuberculin test has an excellent ability to distinguishM. tuberculosis-infected from -uninfected persons. Interpretation requires consideration of prevalence and the purpose for testing. These findings support the recommendation to use different cutpoints for various populations. Even more accurate information can be gotten by interpreting induration size as indicating a probability ofM. tuberculosis infection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA

    David N. Rose MD, Clyde B. Schechter MD & Jack J. Adler MD

  2. Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA

    David N. Rose MD & Jack J. Adler MD

  3. the AIDS Center, USA

    David N. Rose MD

  4. Tuberculosis Elimination Program, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York

    Jack J. Adler MD

Authors
  1. David N. Rose MD
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  2. Clyde B. Schechter MD
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  3. Jack J. Adler MD
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Supported in part by grant MH45686 from the National Institutes of Health.

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Rose, D.N., Schechter, C.B. & Adler, J.J. Interpretation of the tuberculin skin test. J Gen Intern Med 10, 635–642 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02602749

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