IGRAs: Can They Replace the TST?

A National, Web-based Seminar

(1.5 hours)

Date and Time:
January 28, 2009
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (PST), 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (MST),
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (CST), 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (EST)
Presented live, via the internet

General Information

Cost: There is no fee for this course.

Credit: This training is approved for 1.5 continuing education hours.

Target Audience:
This 90 minute web-based seminar is intended for healthcare professionals in the United States who use or are interested in using interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) to diagnose TB infection. This training opportunity is available to a National audience.

Course Content (partial list)
Topics covered will be:

• Review of currently available data
• Serial testing and use of quantitative results
• Implementation of IGRA testing
• What is the risk of progression of someone with a positive IGRA result?
• Can one use quantitative results to monitor response to treatment or to detect failure?
• How have IGRAs performed in children?

Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Compare and contrast IGRAs to the tuberculin skin test in terms of the test mechanics (how the test works)
• Describe why one test may be more accurate to use in the BCG-vaccinated population over the other
• Describe the current data related to IGRA use in TB contacts, HIV disease, and in children
• Describe the implications of IGRA test conversions to "positive" and of reversions to "negative"
• Describe why definitions of TST conversion, requiring a minimum increase in induration, were developed for serial testing and the implications for "standard" IGRA thresholds for positive
• Describe why the agreement (kappa values) of tests for LTBI will be poor in low-risk populations
• List two potential advantages to the clinical implementation of IGRA use
• List at least one common misconception regarding the advantages of IGRA use

Course format:
Web-based didactic lecture.

System Requirements:
Visual:

• Computer with Internet connection

• Audio streaming via the computer (preferred), or
• Phone line

Application:
The application deadline was on December 19, 2008. Applicants will be informed of their registration status after the application deadline.

The Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center is designated as a Regional Tuberculosis Training and Medical Consultation Center (RTMCC) via a funded cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center serves learners from the western region of the United States; however this training is open to learners in all regions of the U.S..

The Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center welcomes inquiries from our Western Region partners regarding training, educational products, technical assistance, and medical consultation.

The Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This training is approved for 1.5 continuing education hours.

The Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center is approved as a provider of continuing education by the California State Board of Registered Nurses, Provider Number CEP 12308. This training is approved for 1.5 continuing education hours.