Scribd
Upload
47 views14 pages

Tuberculin Skin Test

The document summarizes the tuberculin skin test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test, which is used to determine if a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It was developed in the early 1900s based on earlier work. The TST involves injecting a small amount of tuberculin extract under the skin and measuring any induration that develops within 2-3 days. Positive results and their interpretation can vary depending on risk factors. The document outlines the different types of TSTs, procedures, interpretations and potential sources of false negative or positive results.

Uploaded by

Kaio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
47 views14 pages

Tuberculin Skin Test

The document summarizes the tuberculin skin test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test, which is used to determine if a person is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It was developed in the early 1900s based on earlier work. The TST involves injecting a small amount of tuberculin extract under the skin and measuring any induration that develops within 2-3 days. Positive results and their interpretation can vary depending on risk factors. The document outlines the different types of TSTs, procedures, interpretations and potential sources of false negative or positive results.

Uploaded by

Kaio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

TUBERCULIN SKIN

TEST
TST

■ standard method to determine whether a person is infected with


Mycobacterium tuberculosis

■ Tuberculin is a glycerol extract of the tubercle bacillus


History

1890 - Tuberculin reaction was first described


by Robert Koch
1908 - Test was developed and described by Felix
Mendel but named after Charles
Mantoux who built on the work of Koch
and created the test in 1907
Indications for skin test screening
■ Persons with signs and/or symptoms of tuberculosis disease
■ Recent contacts of persons known or suspected to have tuberculosis
■ Persons with upper lobe fibrotic lesions
■ Persons infected with HIV
■ Alcoholics and drug abusers
■ Groups at high risk of infection
■ Groups that would pose significant risk to others if diseased
Types of TST

1. Heaf test
2. Tine test
3. Mantoux screening test
Heaf test

■ Used in UK until 2005 – discontinued


■ Heaf-gun was used to inject multiple samples of testing serum under
the skin at once
■ The gun injected equivalent to 100.000 units / ml
■ Test was read 2-7 days later
■ Scale from negative to Grad IV
Tine test

■ Multiple puncture TST


■ Similar to Heaf test
■ Test uses small button with 4-6 short needles
■ Test is read after 2-3 days
■ Results: positive, negative or doubtful
■ not possible to control precise amount of
tuberculin therefore not used anymore
Mantoux test

■ Standard dose is 5 tuberculin units (TU – 0.1ml)


intradermally
Reading

■ 2-3 days after application


■ Exact size (mm) has to be documented not just negative/ positive
■ Only area that is palpable raised and/ or hardened - not erythematic
■ Positive skin test only tells if person has been infected not if person
has latent TB or progressed to TB disease
Classification of positive result
■ 5 - 10mm is positive in
– HIV person
– Person with recent contact with TB person
– Person with changes on X-ray consistent with old healed TB
– Immunosuppressed patients

■ 10 - 15mm is positive in
– Recent arrivals from high risk countries
– Drug users
– Children less than 4 years of age
– Employees of high risk congregate settings

■ 15mm and more


– Persons with no known risk factors for TB
False negative results

■ TST may be suppressed in following conditions:


1. Infections
2. Steroid use
3. Live virus vaccinations
4. Metabolic derangements
5. Malnutrition
6. Diseases affecting lymphoid organs
False positive results

■ By nontuberculous mycobacteria
■ By previous administration of BCG
■ If area touched or exposed to UV radiation
■ Allergic reaction or hypersensitivity

→ In these cases second test is recommended and chest X-ray


Sources

■ Lippincotts‘s Illustrated Reviews- Microbiology (3rd Edition)


■ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantoux_test
■ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003839.htm

You might also like