Another potential benefit of such a study is that validated biomarkers that associate strongly with TST/IGRA conversion but precede conversion, such as currently unvalidated IgG and IgA markers, could be used to identify M.tb infection before TST/IGRA conversion and thus reduce the burden of follow-up of recent contacts in TB control programs and potentially help reduce LTBI treatment time47. This evidence concerns the gene CD79A and tuberculosis.