Fully Automated Sample-to-Insight Workflow Advances Latent TB Testing

Latent tuberculosis remains a substantial testing workload for clinical laboratories as screening programs expand. Despite this growth, only about 40% of testing has shifted from traditional skin tests to modern blood-based methods. High-volume networks also need end-to-end automation, robust traceability, and timely result delivery. To address these challenges, a new fully automated workflow and an AI-enabled risk stratification tool are planned to advance latent tuberculosis testing.

QIAGEN has announced plans for a fully automated Sample-to-Insight workflow for QuantiFERON latent TB testing targeted for launch in late 2027. The design integrates the QuantiFERON assay, Diasorin LIAISON detection systems, and purpose-built automation developed through a new partnership with Inpeco. Separately, an AI-enabled QuantiFERON risk stratification tool for TB progression is being developed for all QuantiFERON laboratory workflows, with initial customer use also targeted for late 2027.

The workflow is intended to automate the complete process from preanalytical tube handling and incubation to detection on LIAISON systems with minimal operator intervention. Inpeco’s track-based total laboratory automation will incorporate a dedicated QuantiFERON aliquoting system and an intelligent incubation system integrated into the track to enable seamless end-to-end processing. By decoupling volume growth from staffing, laboratories are expected to reduce hands-on time by up to 80%, transition to continuous processing, and improve turnaround time and scalability.

These developments build on growing adoption of LIAISON QuantiFERON‑TB Gold Plus II, whose new chemistry launched in November 2025 in Europe and other countries accepting the CE mark and in February 2026 in the U.S., offering faster efficiency and turnaround time. 

The AI tool is being built on one of the largest longitudinal tuberculosis clinical datasets, comprising about 13 million de-identified patient records collected over the last 10 years, and will analyze quantitative QuantiFERON results to support informed decision-making. The approach leverages QuantiFERON’s patent-protected optimization to explore CD4 and CD8 T‑cell responses, aiming to provide a more complete view of the immune response.

Worldwide, latent TB testing is estimated at approximately 75 million tests annually and growing 4% to 5% per year. More than 2,700 published studies and over 160 million tests performed since launch support the QuantiFERON platform and its continued evolution for high-throughput settings.

“Latent TB testing is moving toward higher-volume, more automated workflows as the market increasingly shifts from traditional skin testing to modern IGRA-based detection,” said Thierry Bernard, CEO of QIAGEN. “By combining QuantiFERON’s CD4 and CD8 data foundation with LIAISON-based testing, Inpeco automation for higher-throughput laboratories and AI-enabled risk stratification designed to support all QuantiFERON workflows, we are building a Sample to Insight ecosystem to help customers scale testing efficiently while improving consistency, traceability and confidence in results.”

“Automation is essential for laboratories facing growing testing volumes and ongoing workforce constraints,” said Riccardo Triunfo, CEO of Inpeco. “We welcome this collaboration with QIAGEN and Diasorin to connect advanced track-based laboratory automation with a leading latent TB testing workflow. By bringing together sample routing, analyzer connectivity, sample traceability and workflow monitoring around QuantiFERON-TB testing on LIAISON systems, we aim to help laboratories expand high-throughput testing capacity and contribute to the global fight against tuberculosis.”