Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis in the age of global travel

In developed countries such as Switzerland, tuberculosis is no longer a widespread epidemic, but it has not disappeared. Increasing global mobility and the expanding use of immunosuppressive therapies create new windows for latent infections to resurface. This makes reliable screening essential to protect vulnerable patients and safeguard public health.

The need for precision TB testing

Dr. Giuseppe Togni of Unilabs highlights the importance of reliable TB testing in patients who are immunocompromised or about to begin immunosuppressive treatment. In these cases, even a small risk of false results can directly affect whether prophylaxis is started or withheld.

False negatives are an issue because if you miss a latent infection, particularly in patients that will then be immunosuppressed, the risk is not to start the appropriate prophylaxis...With the QuantiFERON there is a very limited risk because there are positive and negative controls.
Dr. Giuseppe Togni, PhD, Scientific Director, Infectious Serology and Microbiology, Unilabs

CD4, CD8, and Controls: The immunology behind QuantiFERON-TB

QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) identifies latent tuberculosis by probing the immune system’s T-cell responses. CD4⁺ helper T-cells, which orchestrate immune defense, and CD8⁺ cytotoxic T-cells, which can directly kill infected cells, both release interferon-gamma when they recognize TB-specific antigens in the test tubes. Measuring signals from both subsets provides a more complete picture of host immunity, especially in immunocompromised patients. The Nil tube controls for baseline activity, while the Mitogen tube ensures the immune system can respond at all - together making the assay both scientifically rigorous and clinically reliable.

Bio

Dr. Giuseppe Togni
Dr. Giuseppe Togni, PhD, Specialist FAMH in Microbiology, is the Scientific Director of Infectious Serology and Microbiology at Unilabs Coppet, Switzerland. In this role, he oversees diagnostic services in microbiology and infectious disease serology, with a focus on accuracy, laboratory quality and innovation in testing.

November 2025

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