QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus, 4 Tubes, Draw Site Incubated
Test code
CPT code(s)*
Clinical significance
Test resources
Test FAQ
Details
Includes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance on clinical considerations for tuberculosis (TB) testing such as QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus in conjunction with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Please refer to the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus FAQ link under Test Resources for more detailed information on the latest CDC guidelines regarding TB testing and COVID-19 vaccines.
Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)
Alternative name(s)
TB Gold,QFT Gold Plus,QFT TB,QFT Plus,IGRA
Specimen requirements | |
|---|---|
| Patient preparation | None Specified |
| Preferred specimen(s) | 1 mL whole blood collected in each of the following tubes: QFT-Nil control (gray cap, white or gold ring) tube QFT-TB1 antigen (green cap, white or gold ring) tube QFT-TB2 antigen (yellow cap, white or gold ring) tube QFT-Mitogen control (purple cap, white or gold ring) tube |
| Minimum volume | 0.8 mL in each tube |
| Collection instructions | Note: Specimen collection locations >3350 feet above sea level should use the QuantiFERON® collection kit designed for "High Altitude" (tubes with a gold ring on tube top) For each patient, collect 1 mL of blood by venipuncture directly into each of the 4 QFT-PLUS blood collection tubes. These tubes should be at 17-25° C at the time of draw. If a "butterfly needle" is being used, a "purge" tube should be used to ensure that the tubing is filled with blood prior to the QFT-PLUS tubes being used. Immediately after filling the tubes, shake them 10 times just firmly enough to ensure the entire surface of the tube is coated with blood, to solubilize antigens on tube walls. Each of the four tubes must be transferred to a 37° C +/- 1° C incubator as soon as possible and within 16 hours of collection for 16-24 hours. If the blood is not incubated immediately after collection, re-mixing of the tubes by inverting 10 times must be performed immediately prior to incubation. The specimen rack should sit off the floor of the incubator and the tubes should be upright. Following incubation either: A. Centrifuge each of the 4 incubated collection tubes for 15 minutes at 2000-3000 RCF(G). Label with patient name, identification number, and date of collection. Deliver to Quest Diagnostics at 2-8° C. Samples will be stable for 28 days at 2-8° C (refrigerated). *OR* B. Immediately transport the 4 collection tubes to Quest Diagnostics between 4 and 27° C. Samples will be stable for 72 hours at 4-27° C (refrigerated or at room temperature). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance on clinical considerations for tuberculosis (TB) testing such as QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus in conjunction with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Please refer to the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus FAQ link (https://education.questdiagnostics.com/faq/FAQ204) for more detailed information on the latest CDC guidelines regarding TB testing and COVID-19 vaccines. |
| Transport container | QFT-Nil control (gray cap, white or gold ring) tube QFT-TB1 antigen (green cap, white or gold ring) tube QFT-TB2 antigen (yellow cap, white or gold ring) tube QFT-Mitogen control (purple cap, white or gold ring) tube |
| Transport temperature | Refrigerated (cold packs) |
| Specimen stability | Uncentrifuged specimens Room temperature: 72 hours after incubation Refrigerated: 72 hours after incubation Frozen: Unacceptable Centrifuged specimens Room temperature: Unacceptable Refrigerated: 28 days Frozen: Unacceptable |
| Reject criteria | Non-incubated specimens • Received frozen |
Reference ranges are provided as general guidance only. To interpret test results use the reference range in the laboratory report.
*The CPT codes provided are based on AMA guidance and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payer being billed.
This material contains content from LOINC® (http://loinc.org). The LOINC Table, LOINC Table Core are copyright © 1995-2019, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee and is available at no cost under the license at http://loinc.org/license.
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