QIAGEN’s QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus shows cost-effectiveness compared with TST in a newly published study in people with HIV

New Delhi: QIAGEN has welcomed the publication of a peer-reviewed study titled “Optimizing tuberculosis infection screening strategies for people living with HIV in Thailand: a cost-effectiveness analysis.” The research aims to support evidence-based screening decisions in Thailand and other low- and middle-income countries.

The study modeled one-time tuberculosis infection (TBI) screening in adults living with HIV using Thai epidemiological and cost data. Findings showed that interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), including QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus), were associated with a 41% lower modeled lifetime risk of progression to active TB compared with the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), while also delivering lower projected lifetime costs per individual screened despite higher upfront testing costs. Reduced downstream spending on preventive treatment, follow-up care, adverse events, diagnostic confirmation, and active TB management contributed to the overall savings. The analysis also highlighted higher false-positive rates with TST in BCG-vaccinated populations as a driver of unnecessary treatment and healthcare utilization.

The findings were presented at the 10th Asia Pacific Region Conference of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (APRC 2026) during a symposium on optimizing TB infection testing in high-risk populations.

“The study provides important evidence to inform national screening guideline discussions and resource allocation in high-burden settings,” said Dr. Justin Chai, Director of Medical Affairs at QIAGEN. “More economically efficient screening approaches could strengthen TB prevention efforts among people living with HIV, while operational factors such as infrastructure, training, and logistics remain essential.”

Tuberculosis remains a major global health challenge, with 10.6 million new cases and 1.3 million deaths reported worldwide in 2022. Addressing TB infection — the reservoir for future active disease — is critical to reducing transmission and achieving global TB elimination goals.

QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus, a widely used IGRA blood test, enables TB infection detection through a single-visit blood draw and is particularly useful in BCG-vaccinated populations where TST performance is limited. Global health agencies, including the WHO and CDC, support the use of IGRA-based blood tests as part of comprehensive TB control strategies.