T-SPOT assay for tuberculosis and cytomegalovirus – benefits, results and next steps

Roy Chemaly, MD, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, discusses the T-SPOT.TB assay for predicting tuberculosis (TB) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in stem cell transplant patients. Prof Chemaly explains that is more robust and gives more accurate results compared to the available ELISA assay. According to Prof Chemaly, patients should be screened for TB and given treatment in order to prevent acute infection in the future. The next step for the T-SPOT.TB assay is to show that it can improve long-term outcomes for patients. For CMV, preliminary data shows that if there is a good response on the T-SPOT.CMV assay, then the patient is protected and does not have to monitored closely for CMV. According to Prof Chemaly, the benefit of the T-SPOT.CMV assay also needs to be further confirmed with future studies.
Recorded at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in Valencia, Spain.