Blood Test · Tuberculosis

QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus in Singapore

Nurse taking a blood sample from a seated male patient for a QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus test at a Singapore clinic
  • Blood Test, Not X-ray
  • Unaffected by BCG
  • Results in 2–5 Days
  • Near MRT Stations

The QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus is a modern blood test for tuberculosis exposure — an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay that has largely replaced the older Mantoux skin test. It is widely used for pre-employment screening, pre-biologic clearance, immigration medicals and contact screening.

Test Name QuantiFERON® TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) IGRA blood test
Sample Single blood draw — no fasting or preparation required
Price $323 NETT per test · optional consultation & medical memo $49.05
Turnaround 2 to 5 working days, delivered securely by email. WhatsApp 8095 3275
Where
Jurong (Dr Joel) — CPF Jurong Building, Jurong East MRT
Tanjong Pagar — Anson House, Tanjong Pagar MRT
Orchard — Camden Medical Centre, Orchard MRT
Novena — Royal Square Medical Centre, Novena MRT
At Home Prefer not to travel? A nurse can come to you for the blood draw
Book Your Appointment Today

Medically Reviewed By: Dr Joel Foo MBBS (Singapore), MRCS (Ed), DWD (CAW), GDFM Men's Health Doctor & Family Physician

Last updated: Aug 01, 2026

What Is the QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus Test?

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a notifiable infectious disease in Singapore. The Ministry of Health reported 1,156 new active TB cases among residents in 2024 (a notification rate of 27.6 per 100,000) under the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTBP). Most adults exposed to TB never develop active disease — the bacteria remain dormant as latent TB infection, which can reactivate decades later, particularly if the immune system is suppressed. Identifying these dormant infections before they cause disease is the goal of TB screening, and from July 2024, TB contact screening is mandatory in Singapore to enable earlier diagnosis and timely treatment.

The QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) is an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) — a modern blood test for evidence of TB exposure. When blood from a previously exposed person is mixed with TB-specific proteins (ESAT-6 and CFP-10) in the laboratory, the immune cells respond by releasing a chemical signal called interferon-gamma. The test measures this response. Reported performance in pooled clinical studies is over 94% sensitivity and over 97% specificity, with results delivered to you within 2 to 5 working days.

A key advantage over the older Mantoux (Tuberculin Skin Test, TST) is that QFT-Plus is not affected by prior BCG vaccination. Almost every Singaporean receives BCG at birth, which causes a high rate of false positives on the Mantoux test — international guidelines therefore now generally prefer IGRA over TST for BCG-vaccinated adults.

Who Needs a QuantiFERON TB Test?

QFT-Plus is most often used in the following situations:

  • Pre-employment medical screening — especially for healthcare workers, laboratory staff, prison and detention officers, and education-sector roles where TB exposure risk or close contact with vulnerable individuals is higher. Many Singapore employers in these sectors now request QFT-Plus over chest X-ray for the screening of latent TB.
  • Before starting biologic or immunosuppressant therapy — treatments such as TNF-alpha inhibitors (used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease) can reactivate latent TB. Screening before initiation is standard practice in rheumatology, dermatology and gastroenterology, with treatment of latent TB if positive.
  • Overseas immigration medical examinations — for US Green Card applicants completing the medical examination (form DS-2054) in Singapore, an IGRA blood test is the required tuberculosis screening for adults aged 2 and above, because Singapore exceeds the WHO-estimated threshold of 20 TB cases per 100,000 that triggers this requirement. Certain UK, Canadian and Australian work-visa categories also accept or prefer IGRA over chest X-ray for BCG-vaccinated adults.
  • School enrolment — some Singapore institutions (medical, nursing and allied health programmes) and overseas student-visa applications require documented TB screening as part of the medical clearance.
  • Contact screening after known exposure — from July 2024, TB contact screening is mandatory in Singapore for household and close work contacts of a person with active TB. The test is typically performed 8 to 10 weeks after the last exposure to allow time for the immune system to respond.
  • Investigation of suspicious symptoms — persistent cough lasting more than 3 weeks, unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats, persistent low-grade fever, or coughing up blood warrant medical assessment. QFT-Plus is one part of the work-up, alongside chest X-ray, sputum testing and clinical review.

If you are unsure whether the test applies to your situation — or which report format your employer, school or immigration authority requires — WhatsApp us and our team will confirm before you book.

How Does the Test Work?

The QFT-Plus assay measures your immune system's response to two TB-specific protein cocktails — antigen tube 1 (TB1) and antigen tube 2 (TB2) — alongside negative and positive control tubes. TB1 is designed to elicit a response from CD4+ helper T-cells (the typical mediators of latent infection), while TB2 is designed to additionally stimulate CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells, which are theoretically more relevant in recent or active infection. Whether this dual-tube design materially improves real-world diagnostic performance over earlier IGRA formats remains an area of ongoing study.

Compared with the Mantoux skin test

  • One visit, not two — QFT-Plus is a single blood draw. The Mantoux test requires an injection and a return visit 48 to 72 hours later for a clinician to measure the skin reaction.
  • Not affected by BCG — the antigens used in QFT-Plus are not present in the BCG vaccine strain, so prior BCG vaccination does not cause false positives. This is the main reason IGRA tests have largely displaced the Mantoux test in BCG-vaccinated populations like Singapore.
  • Objective result — the laboratory reports a quantitative interferon-gamma value, removing the inter-reader variability of skin-test interpretation.
  • Not affected by most non-tuberculous mycobacteria — ESAT-6 and CFP-10 are largely absent from environmental mycobacteria, further reducing false positives. A small number of species — notably M. kansasii, M. szulgai and M. marinum — can cause cross-reactivity, which your doctor will factor into the clinical picture.

Like the Mantoux test, QFT-Plus tells you whether you have been exposed to TB — it cannot by itself distinguish between active TB disease and latent TB infection. A positive result is followed by clinical review and usually a chest X-ray to assess for active disease.

What to Expect at Your Visit

  1. Brief consultation — your doctor will confirm the purpose of the test (employment, immigration, pre-biologic clearance, etc.), check for any symptoms suggestive of active TB, and discuss any history of TB exposure or prior treatment.
  2. Blood draw — a single sample is collected from a vein in your arm. The blood is distributed across four specialised tubes (nil control, TB1 antigen, TB2 antigen, mitogen positive control) for laboratory processing. Total appointment time is usually under 15 minutes.
  3. Laboratory analysis — samples are processed at an accredited medical laboratory. Results are typically available in 2 to 5 working days.
  4. Result delivery — you receive the result by secure email. If you have requested a signed medical memo or stamped report for an employer, school or immigration authority, this is prepared at the same time.
  5. Follow-up — if the result is positive or indeterminate, your doctor will discuss the next steps (typically chest X-ray and clinical review) and arrange referral to the TB Control Unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital if active disease is suspected.

Preparation and side effects

No fasting or special preparation is needed — you can eat, drink and take your usual medications as normal. The blood draw itself is generally well tolerated; mild bruising or soreness at the puncture site is the most common side effect and resolves within a day or two.

Understanding Your QuantiFERON Result

Results are reported as one of three categories. Your doctor will explain what the result means in your specific context — the same lab result can have very different implications depending on whether you are a healthy adult having pre-employment screening or about to start immunosuppressive therapy.

Negative

No detectable immune response to TB antigens. In low- to moderate-risk individuals, this strongly suggests no active or latent TB infection. A negative result is the most common outcome of pre-employment screening in adults without known risk factors. Note that very recent exposure (within the last 8 to 10 weeks) may not yet show on the test — consistent with MOH's Clinical Practice Guidelines for tuberculosis, your doctor may recommend repeat testing after the window period if exposure occurred recently.

Positive

The immune response indicates prior exposure to TB. The next step is to determine whether this is active TB disease or latent TB infection:

  • Chest X-ray to look for signs of active pulmonary TB
  • Symptom review — persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats, fever, coughing up blood
  • Sputum testing if active disease is suspected
  • Referral to the TB Control Unit (TBCU) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital / NCID if active TB is suspected — TB is a notifiable disease in Singapore and contact tracing is managed centrally under the National Tuberculosis Programme
  • Latent TB treatment may be recommended even without active disease, especially before starting biologics, immunosuppressants, or for healthcare workers with ongoing TB exposure risk

Indeterminate

The test could not give a clear positive or negative answer — usually because the immune cells did not produce a measurable response to the positive control (suggesting general immune suppression) or because of a laboratory handling issue. Indeterminate results are more common in people on chemotherapy, biologics, high-dose steroids, or with advanced HIV. Most cases resolve with a repeat blood draw; persistent indeterminate results may require alternative investigation.

Need a TB clearance report? Walk in, walk out.

Let us know the purpose — employer, school, immigration or pre-treatment clearance — and we will sort the report format you need. Same-day appointments available across our four clinics, subject to slots — or have the blood draw done at your home.

Book Your Appointment Today

QuantiFERON TB Test Price in Singapore

The QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus blood test is not on Singapore's Nationally Recommended Vaccines or screening list and is therefore not MediSave-claimable. Most corporate health-screening packages also exclude IGRA testing by default — check with your employer or insurer before the appointment if cost recovery is important. Pricing across our four clinics:

Item Description Price*
QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus IGRA blood test, single draw, results in 2–5 working days $323
[Optional] Home Blood Draw — We Come to You
For busy schedules, limited mobility, or anyone who would rather not sit in a waiting room.
 A nurse or phlebotomist comes to you for the blood draw — the same panel, taken at home instead of at a clinic $54.50 (per location, up to 5 pax)
Consultation & medical memo Optional — signed report for employer, school or immigration authority $49.05

* Prices are NETT and inclusive of GST. Standard consultation fees apply for the booking visit unless the memo add-on is selected. The QFT-Plus blood test is not MediSave-claimable as it is not on Singapore's Nationally Recommended screening list.

Last updated: Aug 01, 2026. While every effort is made to keep pricing information up to date, please WhatsApp 8095 3275 to confirm the latest rates.

The ATA Medical team with Dr Joel Foo at the Tanjong Pagar clinic, Singapore
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How Do I Book a QuantiFERON TB Test?

Fill in the form below, or WhatsApp us on 8095 3275.

FAQ

QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus: Common Questions

What patients in Singapore most often ask about TB blood testing.

What is the QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus test?

QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) is a blood test that detects exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). It is an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) — when blood from someone exposed to TB is mixed with specific TB proteins in the laboratory, the immune cells release a chemical signal called interferon-gamma, which the test measures. A positive result means your immune system has previously encountered TB; further evaluation is then needed to determine whether the infection is active or latent.

How is QuantiFERON different from the Mantoux (TST) skin test?

Both tests look for evidence of TB infection but they work differently. The Mantoux (Tuberculin Skin Test, TST) involves an injection under the skin and requires you to return 48 to 72 hours later for a clinician to read the reaction. QFT-Plus is a one-visit blood test with no return appointment needed. Crucially, QFT-Plus is not affected by prior BCG vaccination — important in Singapore, where BCG is given at birth and routinely causes false positives on the Mantoux test. International guidelines now generally prefer IGRA over TST for BCG-vaccinated adults.

Do I need to fast or prepare before the test?

No fasting or special preparation is required. You can eat, drink, and take your usual medications normally before the appointment. The blood draw takes only a few minutes.

How long do QuantiFERON results take?

Results are typically ready within 2 to 5 working days, delivered to you securely via email. If you need a medical memo or signed report for an employer, school or immigration authority, this can be prepared at the same time — let us know your requirements when you book.

What does a positive QuantiFERON result mean?

A positive QFT-Plus result means your immune system has previously been exposed to TB bacteria. It does not by itself distinguish between active TB disease and latent TB infection (where the bacteria are present but inactive). The next step is usually a chest X-ray and clinical review to assess for active disease; in Singapore, patients with active or suspected active TB are referred to the TB Control Unit (TBCU) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for further management. Latent TB may be treated to reduce the risk of future reactivation, particularly before starting immunosuppressive therapy.

Will my BCG vaccination affect the results?

No. QFT-Plus uses TB-specific antigens (ESAT-6 and CFP-10) that are not present in the BCG vaccine strain or in most non-tuberculous mycobacteria. A small number of species — notably M. kansasii, M. szulgai and M. marinum — can cause cross-reactivity, but BCG is not among them. This is the main reason IGRA tests have largely replaced the Mantoux skin test for BCG-vaccinated populations like Singapore, where almost everyone receives BCG at birth and the Mantoux test produces a high false-positive rate.

Is QuantiFERON accepted for MOM, ICA and overseas medical examinations?

Acceptance depends on the requesting authority. For Singapore work permit medical examinations under MOM, the standard requirement is a chest X-ray rather than a blood test. For ICA Long-Term Visit Pass and Permanent Residence medical examinations, requirements vary by case — check the exact requirements on your application form. For US Green Card applicants completing the medical examination (form DS-2054) in Singapore, an IGRA blood test is the required tuberculosis screening for adults aged 2 and above, because Singapore exceeds the WHO-estimated threshold of 20 TB cases per 100,000 that triggers this requirement. Certain UK, Canadian and Australian work-visa categories also accept or prefer IGRA over chest X-ray for BCG-vaccinated adults. For pre-employment screening by Singapore employers (especially healthcare, laboratory, education and prison settings), QFT-Plus is the modern standard. Let us know the purpose at booking and we will confirm the specific report format required.

Why might I get an indeterminate result?

An indeterminate result means the test could not give a clear positive or negative answer. It is more common in people who are immunocompromised — on chemotherapy, biologics, high-dose steroids, or with advanced HIV — because the immune cells cannot produce enough interferon-gamma for the test to measure reliably. Other causes include laboratory handling issues. Most cases resolve with a repeat blood draw; persistent indeterminate results may require alternative investigation such as a chest X-ray and symptom review.

How much does the QuantiFERON test cost in Singapore?

The QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus blood test at our clinics is $323 NETT per test (inclusive of GST). An optional consultation and signed medical memo for employers, schools or immigration is $49.05. Most insurance and corporate health-screening packages do not include IGRA testing by default; check with your employer or insurer before the appointment if cost recovery is important. See the full pricing table above or WhatsApp 8095 3275 to confirm current rates.

Our Locations

4 Clinics Across Singapore

Men's health services — screening, testosterone, erectile dysfunction, hair loss and weight management — are available at all four clinics. Dr Joel practises at Jurong; our other male physicians cover Tanjong Pagar (Anson House), Orchard and Novena. Medication from telemedicine consultations can be collected at any location.

Jurong

21 Jurong Gateway Rd, #02-08
CPF Jurong Building
Singapore 608546

Mon–Fri: 8:30am–12:30pm, 1:30pm–5:30pm
Sat: 8:30am–12:30pm
Sun & PH: Closed
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Tanjong Pagar

72 Anson Rd, #01-02
Anson House
Singapore 079911

Mon–Fri: 8:30am–12:30pm, 1:30pm–5:30pm
Sat: 8:30am–12:30pm
Sun & PH: Closed
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Orchard

1 Orchard Blvd, #05-09
Camden Medical Centre
Singapore 248649

Mon–Fri: 8:30am–12:30pm, 1:30pm–5:30pm
Sat: 8:30am–12:30pm
Sun & PH: Closed
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Novena

101 Irrawaddy Road, #09-01
Royal Square Medical Centre
Singapore 329565

Mon–Fri: 8:30am–12:30pm, 1:30pm–5:30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: Closed
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QuantiFERON TB Gold Plus
in Singapore

WhatsApp us with the purpose of the test — employment, immigration, pre-biologic clearance or contact screening — and we will sort the report format you need. Same-day appointments across our four clinics, subject to slots.

Book Your Appointment Today Call 6223 0682