Abstract: The present invention refers to methods of detecting an infection with pathogens causing tuberculosis comprising the steps of a) contacting a first aliquot of a sample of an individual with at least one antigen of a pathogen causing tuberculosis, b) incubating the first aliquot with the at least one antigen for about 15 to about 23 hours, c) adding a cell lysing reagent which is preferably able to stabilize RNA in a temperature range of about 0° C. to about 40° C.

Abstract: The present invention refers to in vitro methods of detecting an infection with pathogens causing tuberculosis comprising the steps of (a) contacting a first aliquot of a sample of an individual with at least one antigen of a pathogen causing tuberculosis, b) incubating the first aliquot with the at least one antigen over a certain period of time, c) detecting in the first aliquot and in a second aliquot of the sample of the individual a marker or a combination of markers, e.g. Interferon gamma, CXCL10, ncTRIM69, using reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq), and d) comparing the detected marker(s) in the first aliquot with the detected marker(s) in the second aliquot, wherein the second aliquot has not been incubated with the at least one antigen. In addition, the present invention refers to a kit for performing the methods according to the present invention.