REPORT

QuantiFERON (QFT/Tuberculosis Serology)

San Francisco Public Health Laboratory

Test Order Name - QuantiFERON-Plus (QFT-Plus)

Synonym(s) - Tuberculosis (TB) serology

Methodology - Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Acceptable Specimen Type(s) for Testing -

  • QuantiFERON Plus blood tubes: nil (grey), TB1 antigen (green), TB2 antigen (yellow), mitogen (purple).
  • ZSFG Campus submitters ONLY: Specimens collected before 1:00pm should be sent to PHL within 2 hours of collection (pediatric or inpatient patients only). Specimens collected after 1:00pm Monday through Thursday should be drawn using 2 to 5 milliliters lithium heparin (dark green) without separators. Collect AT LEAST 5 milliliters of whole blood between both dark green top tubes. Submit specimens to the ZSFG clinical laboratory within 2 hours of collection to be refrigerated.

Transport / Collection Medium - Not applicable

Storage and Preservation of Specimen - For QFT-Plus tubes only: Room temperature (22 plus or minus 5⁰C) for up to 16 hours prior to incubation. Specimens incubated prior to submission: Incubate at 37⁰C for 16 hours. Lithium heparin tubes should be refrigerated within 2 hours of collection and should be received in the laboratory within 48hrs of collection.

Minimum Volume Required -

  • QuantiFERON Plus 4-tubes: 1 milliliter per tube.
  • Lithium Heparin (dark green) tubes without separator: minimum 5 milliliters of whole blood. (See submitters restrictions above).

Additional Collection Instructions - Shake tube firmly 10 times to ensure coating with whole blood after collection.

Additional Required Information - Collection date and time required. Specimens must be received by the laboratory the same day by 3:30 PM. If specimens are incubated before submission to the San Francisco Public Health Laboratory incubation date and times are required with all specimens.

Send Out? - No

Turnaround Time - 7 business days from receipt

Testing Restrictions - None

Limitations / Notes / Disclaimers - Only for contracted submitters