A new, more specific skin test to detect tuberculosis has been developed by Statens Serum Institut in Denmark. The new skin test is named C-Tb and like the current Tuberculin a positive test result will show as redness and/or swelling at the injection site, while a negative test will leave no reactions. The aim of this study is to test the C-Tb skin test in healthy adults previously BCG vaccinated to determine if healthy non tuberculosis infected individuals has a truly negative test result (this is called determining the specificity of the skin test). To be able to compare the new skin test with the current Tuberculin skin test volunteers will be injected with both the C-Tb and the TST skin test.
The trial is designed to investigate the specificity of C-Tb under various definitions of cut-off in a double blind randomised, split-body study comparing 0.1 µg/0.1 mL C-Tb with the reference agent 2 T.U. Tuberculin PPD RT23 SSI. (Each volunteer receives the C-Tb agent in one arm and the 2 T.U. Tuberculin PPD in the other arm). The C-Tb and 2 T.U. Tuberculin PPD agents are given concomitantly to each volunteer in the RIGHT AND LEFT forearm according to a double blind randomisation scheme. The primary objective of the trial is to assess the specificity of the C-Tb test as a function of the cut-off value (i.e., the smallest size of induration measured in mm resulting in a negative outcome of the C-Tb test) when the test is administered intradermally by the Mantoux technique to healthy BCG vaccinated adults The specificity of the C-Tb test is defined as the relative frequency of subjects in a healthy population (i.e., no exposure to MTb) who have an induration response \< cut-off after a C-Tb test. Similarly the sensitivity is defined as the relative frequency of patients with an induration response ≥ cut-off in TB patients. An optimal cut-off point of being infected will be determined by combing the results from the present specificity study with those from a parallel sensitivity study in patients recently diagnosed with TB. The secondary objectives of the trial are to compare the induration response of C-Tb with the induration response of 2 T.U. Tuberculin PPD RT 23 SSI, to compare the induration response of C-Tb with the in-vitro IFN-γ response measured at screening and 28 days after the injections of the skin test agents using the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube assay and finally to record all adverse events occurring within 28 days after application of the agents.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
151
The C-Tb agent is administered by the Mantoux injection technique to each volunteer in the RIGHT or LEFT forearms according to a double blind randomisation scheme
The 2TU Tuberculin PPD RT 23 SSI agent is administered by the Mantoux injection technique to each volunteer in the RIGHT or LEFT forearms according to a double blind randomisation scheme
Surrey Clinical Research Centre, University of Surrey
Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
The diameter of induration at the injection sites measured transversely to the long axis of the forearm 2-3 days after application of the agents
Time frame: From injections to 2-3 days after application of the agents
Injection site adverse reactions within 28 days after application of the agents
Time frame: Onset between the injections and 28 days after the injections
All adverse events occurring within 28 days after application of the agents
Time frame: Onset between the injections and 28 days after the injections
Laboratory safety parameters of haematology and biochemistry
Time frame: Onset between the injections and 28 days after the injections
In vitro IFN-γ response as measured by the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube assay from blood samples taken at screening and 28 days after the injections of the skin test agents
Time frame: Onset between the injections and 28 days after the injections
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