Being a non-South African (RR 1.30 95% CI 0.64–2.64), lack of formal education (RR 1.32 95% CI 0.61–2.88) and low CD4 count (≤50 vs. >250cells/mm3; RR 3.29 95% CI 0.42–25.97) resulted in a higher risk of failed linkage to TB care, but the association was no longer statistically significant, possibly due to the lower numbers of patients who failed to link to care in this analysis. This evidence concerns the gene CD4 and tuberculosis.