IGRA
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Interferon-gamma release assay |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
IGRA stands for Interferon-gamma release assay, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Blood test for TB infection that measures interferon-gamma released by a person's white cells when exposed to TB-specific proteins. It needs only one visit and is not affected by prior BCG vaccination; commercial versions include QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus and T-SPOT.TB.
Example: IGRA positive (QuantiFERON) in BCG-vaccinated health worker; chest X-ray clear, offer LTBI treatment.
Usage notes
Like the skin test, an IGRA cannot distinguish latent from active TB. Indeterminate results occur more often in people with low lymphocyte counts. US guidelines from 2017 prefer IGRA for people who received BCG or are unlikely to return for a skin test reading. Pronounced "EYE-gruh".
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus
- hMPV – Human metapneumovirus
- HPV – Human papillomavirus
- HSV – Herpes simplex virus
- HZ – Herpes zoster
- IDSA – Infectious Diseases Society of America
- IIV – Inactivated influenza vaccine
- ILI – Influenza-like illness
- IRIS – Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome
- KS – Kaposi sarcoma
- LAIV – Live attenuated influenza vaccine
- LTBI – Latent tuberculosis infection
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.