By Wendy Thanassi MD, MA, MRO
This article reviews TB epidemiology, transmission, and the evolving spectrum from latent infection to active disease. The article compares traditional tuberculin skin testing with modern interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), highlighting preanalytical considerations, technical limitations, and quality assurance practices. Emerging molecular diagnostics and resistance testing are also discussed. Readers will gain practical insight into current guidelines, testing innovations, and how laboratorians drive early detection, targeted treatment, and global TB control efforts.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to:
- List the epidemiological and healthcare statistics for TB infections worldwide and in the United States.
- Discuss transmission mode and the current disease states of TB.
- Discuss the various TB laboratory methodologies and their limitations.
- List new innovations in the evolution of TB testing.
Wendy Thanassi MD, MA, MRO completed her B.A. at Yale as a double major, summa cum laude, in Biology and African Studies, followed by medical school at Stanford University with an M.D. and a concurrent Master’s degree in International Economics. She then returned to Yale New Haven Hospital for Emergency Medicine residency. Dr. Thanassi has worked on multiple volunteer and research projects in Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Australia, South Africa and Namibia. Professionally, she worked for the USus. Department of Veterans Affairs as a Chief of Occupational Health for 16 years leading the national TB testing programs for their 300,000 healthcare workers, and was a Professor at Stanford Medicine. She sits on the CDC’s Advisory Council for Elimination of TBtb; and is the Representative to the International Congress on Occupational health representing all employed Americans. In January 2024, Dr. Thanassi joined QIAGEN as the Senior Medical Director for TB & Infectious Diseases in North America.
Course Includes
- 1 Lesson
- 1 Test
- Course Certificate
MLO and Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, IL, are co-sponsors in offering continuing education units (CEUs) for this issue’s CE article. CEUs or contact hours are granted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Northern Illinois University, which has been approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. Continuing education credits awarded for successful completion of this test are acceptable for the ASCP Board of Registry Continuing Competence Recognition Program. Readers who pass the test successfully (scoring 70% or higher) will receive a certificate for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® credit. The fee for this continuing education test is $20. This test was prepared by Amanda Voelker, MPH, MT(ASCP), MLS, Clinical Education Coordinator, School of Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Passing scores of 70 percent or higher are eligible for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E. credit. This test is no longer valid for CEUs after December 2026.
NIU is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ® Program.