Comparative study of RT23 and Merieux tuberculin tested among healthy volunteers
OBJECTIVE: To compare the biological potency of two different tuberculins.
DESIGN: We performed simultaneous testing with RT23 and Merieux tuberculin in a group of 546 Police Academy students in Athens to compare reactions to both tuberculins. The students were divided into three groups according to their year of training; the participants in each group were tested using the Mantoux method simultaneously with the two tuberculins in different concentrations.
RESULTS: Using a 10 mm cut-off point for a positive tuberculin skin test, positive reactions to RT23 and Merieux were highly correlated. No statistically significant difference was established. The results indicated significant superiority of the size of the reaction with RT23 tuberculin (P = 0.014).
CONCLUSIONS: Both tuberculins appear to have equivalent potency, with RT23 more frequently producing reactions of larger sizes.
Keywords: RT23; bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG); potency; purified protein derivative; tuberculin Merieux; tuberculosis
Document Type: Regular Paper
Affiliations: 1: Tuberculosis Department, Resistant Tuberculosis Unit, ‘Sotiria’ General Regional Chest Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece 2: School of Nursing, Intensive Care Unit, Trauma Hospital ‘KAT’, University of Athens, Kifissia, Athens, Greece 3: Pulmonary Disease Department, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece
Publication date: 01 March 2009
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.
The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.
- Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Subscribe to this Title
- International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
- Public Health Action
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content