2.1. Background

Testing for TB infection increases the certainty that individuals targeted for treatment will benefit from it. However, there is no gold-standard test to diagnose TB infection. Both currently available tests – the TST and IGRAs – are indirect and require a competent immune response to identify people infected with TB. A positive test result by either method is not by itself a reliable indicator of the risk of progression to active disease. This section discusses the evidence and the recommendations for TB infection testing

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