The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for an end to the use of serological tests to diagnose tuberculosis (TB). Testing for active TB disease by detecting antibodies in the blood is extremely difficult. Patients can have different antibody responses suggesting that they have active TB even when they do not. Antibodies may also develop against other organisms which could wrongly indicate they have active TB. In addition, different organisms share the same antigens, making tests results unreliable. These factors can result in TB disease not being identified or being wrongly diagnosed.
Related links
The new WHO policy on TB diagnostics
WHO warns against the use of inaccurate blood tests for active tuberculosis
