Quantiferon Gold / TB Gold / TB IGRA Test in Kathmandu

About this test

This is a blood-based test for tuberculosis infection that works quite differently from a chest X-ray or sputum test. Rather than looking for active disease, it checks whether your immune system has ever encountered the TB bacterium. A small amount of your blood is incubated with proteins unique to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the laboratory then measures how much interferon-gamma your white cells release in response. A strong response means your T-cells recognise TB and you carry the infection; a flat response makes infection unlikely. Because the test uses proteins absent from the BCG vaccine and from most environmental mycobacteria, it does not give a false positive simply because you received BCG as a child — a real advantage over the older Mantoux skin test in a country like Nepal where almost everyone is vaccinated. Doctors order it to investigate latent TB: in people who have shared a home or workplace with someone who has active TB, before starting immune-suppressing treatments such as biologics, steroids or transplant medicines, in those newly diagnosed with HIV, and for healthcare workers and migrants needing screening. It is important to understand what it cannot do — it cannot tell latent from active TB, nor confirm a cure, so a positive result is always read alongside symptoms, a chest X-ray and sputum studies. Given that TB remains one of Nepal's most significant infectious diseases, this test is a valuable tool for catching silent infection before it progresses to illness.

Sample type

Whole blood (specialised QuantiFERON tubes)

Preparation

No fasting required. The blood must be collected into a specific set of coloured QuantiFERON tubes and processed quickly, so please come to the lab in person rather than sending a sample from elsewhere, and ideally arrive earlier in the day.

Turnaround time

Reports for Quantiferon Gold / TB Gold / TB IGRA are typically ready within: 3rd Working Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other immunology tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside Quantiferon Gold / TB Gold / TB IGRA or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.