Abstract: Objective To study the latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the new recruits from Beijing army with enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT), and to evaluate the value of ELISPOT assay.Methods A total of 128 new recruits from Beijing army in 2010 were examined by purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test, and the number of T cells secreting IFN-γ in their peripheral blood in recombinant CFP-10/ESAT-6 fusion protein (rCFP-10/ESAT-6) were detected by ELISPOT assay. 45 new recruits who were negative by ELISPOT and PPD skin test were vaccinated with BCG vaccine.Results Of 128 new recruits, the positive rates of PPD skin test and ELISPOT assay were 50.00% (64/128) and 28.13% (36/128), respectively. Of 64 PPD-negative and 64 PPD-positive new recruits, 19 (29.69%) and 17 (26.56%) were ELISPOT positive, respectively. Overall agreement between these two tests was 48.44% (62/128), but their difference was statistically remarkable (χ²=9.776,P=0.0018). Of the new recruits found the vaccination scars on their arms, 57.44% (58/101) was PPD-positive, and 26.73% (27/101) was ELISPOT-positive [spot forming cell (SFC):23.52±11.01].Of the new recruits without the vaccination scars on their arms, 22.22% (6/27) was PPD-positive, and 33.33% (9/27) was ELISPOT-positive (SFC:32.78±24.06).Conclusion ELISPOT technique has higher specificity and sensitivity for screening LTBI.