When the analysis was done only on the host markers that were evaluated at all study sites, a seven-marker combination comprising unstimulated levels of IFN-γ, TGF-α, IL-1a, MMP-2 and the antigen-specific levels of EGF, VEGF and TGF-α diagnosed TB disease with a sensitivity of 73.9% (95%CI, 63.5–82.3%) and specificity of 84.5% (95% CI 77.6–89.6%) in the training set (n = 247; n = 92TB, n = 155 ORD), and a sensitivity of 51.3% (95% CI 35.0–67.3% and specificity of 77.3% (95% CI, 65.0–86.3%) in the test set (n = 105; n = 39 TB, n = 66 ORD). The gene discussed is TGFA; the disease is tuberculosis.