Abstract: ［Abstract］ ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of TSPOTTB and tuberculosis protein chip test for difference age patients with smearnegative pulmonary tuberculosis. MethodsOne hundred and ninetyone tuberculosis patients(smearnegative pulmonary tuberculosis) and 91 pneumonia patients were enrolled in our test. They were divided into three groups: the teenage group(7~40 years old), the middleaged group(＞40~65 years old) and the gerontism group(more than ＞65 years old). The three groups were examined with TSPOTTB and tuberculosis protein chip test. ResultsThe  sensitivity of TSPOTTB and tuberculosis protein chip test in teenage group and  middleaged group were significant difference between the two methods(P＜005)， but the specificity of two methods was no significant difference(P＞005). The sensitivity and  specificity in gerontism group were no significant difference(P＞005).  ConclusionTSPOTTB was important in the diagnosis for teenage  and middleaged patients with smearnegative pulmonary tuberculosis. The diagnosis of smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis in the elder patients should be selected according to the specific status.

Key words: tuberculosis, pulmonary, interferongamma release tests, protein chip