Comparison of Diagnostic Performance of C-Tb to QuantiFERON®-TB, in Combination With a Safety Assessment of C-Tb vs Tuberculin PPD RT23 SSI

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be the most important bacterial infection worldwide and therefore new improved diagnostic tests are needed to help doctors in diagnosing TB.

We are investigating a new skin test named C-Tb. Like the current tuberculin skin test (PPD), the C-Tb test is injected just under the skin and will, when positive, show redness and/or swelling at the injection site while a negative test will leave no reactions.

The aim of this trial is to test the C-Tb skin test in volunteers. The volunteers are divided into four groups:

* Negative control group: Must have no history of exposure to a person with tuberculosis disease.
* Occasional contact: Must be in contact with a person with tuberculosis disease between 6 hours/week and 6 hours/day
* Close contact: Must be in close contact with a person with tuberculosis disease for more than 6 hours/day for at least five days
* Positive control group: Must have a confirmed tuberculosis disease within the last 3 years.

The goals of this clinical trial are:

* To compare the C-Tb test to a blood test, the QuantiFERON test.
* To compare the C-Tb test to the PPD test that is currently being used.
* To assess the safety of the C-Tb test.

The TESEC-06 trial is an open comparison of the diagnostics performance of C-Tb compared to QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube, in combination with a double-blind randomized split-body safety assessment of C-Tb versus Tuberculin PPD RT23 SSI.

The trial is designed to address the fundamental issue that in the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection, no gold standard exists. Thus, no existing test for latent TB is 100 % sensitive and specific - including the Tuberculin PPD RT23 SSI and QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube.

This will be addressed by evaluating C-Tb positive response rates in 4 groups defined by their estimated risk of infection with MTb. The groups will consist of paediatric and adult participants selected as being either occasional or close contacts to an active pulmonary TB case. In addition a group of confirmed TB cases and a group of participants with no history of exposure to MTb will be included as control groups.

50 participants in the negative control group will be tested with C-Tb alone in order to evaluate whether concomitant administration of C-Tb and Tuberculin PPD RT23 SSI could conceivably result in larger or smaller areas of induration to one or both tests as a result of expanding the clone of sensitised T-cells i.e. since Tuberculin PPD RT23 SSI includes among several other antigens ESAT-6 and CFP-10 and C-Tb also contains both these antigens.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Can comply with one of the following groups:

   1. Negative control group: Must have no history of exposure to a TB index case, and have no signs or symptoms of TB
   2. Positive control group: Confirmed TB disease within the last 3 years by sputum smear microscopy and/or Culture, Gene Xpert or PCR
   3. Close contact group: Must be in close contact with a pulmonary smear positive TB index case for more than 6 hours/day for at least five days
   4. Occasional contact group: Must be in contact with a pulmonary sputum smear positive TB index case between 6 hours/week and 6 hours/day
2. Is between 6 weeks - 65 years of age
3. Participant, parent or legal guardian has provided signed informed consent
4. Is willing and likely to comply with the trial procedures
5. Is prepared to grant authorized persons access to their medical records

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has been vaccinated with a live vaccine within 6 weeks prior to the day of inclusion (e.g. Mumps Measles Rubella (MMR), yellow fever, oral typhoid vaccines)
2. Has been tuberculin tested less than 12 months prior to the day of inclusion
3. Is pregnant, breastfeeding or intending to get pregnant within the trial period
4. Is a female of child bearing potential (12 years of age or older having had their first menstruation) not willing to use effective barrier (including spermicidal gel), hormonal or intrauterine contraceptive measures within the trial period
5. Has an active disease affecting the lymphoid organs except for HIV (e.g., Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, leukaemia, sarcoidosis)
6. Has a current skin condition which interferes with the reading of the C-Tb and Tuberculin PPD RT23 SSI e.g. tattoos, severe scarring, burns/sunburns, rash, eczema, psoriasis, or any other skin disease at or near the injection sites
7. Has a condition where blood drawings pose more than minimal risk for the participant, such as haemophilia, other coagulation disorders, or significantly impaired venous access
8. Current participation in another clinical trial with an investigational or non investigational drug or device, which in the opinion of investigator may interfere with this trial drug
9. Has participated in previous clinical trials investigating injections with ESAT-6 and/or CFP-10 antigens
10. Has a condition which in the opinion of the investigator is not suitable for participation in the trial