Jet Injector Tuberculin Skin Testing Compared with Mantoux Method

• Published in: H.S.M.H.A. health reports Vol. 86; no. 4; pp. 381 - 384
• Main Authors: Doris H. Thompson, Greenberg, Harry B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Health Services and Mental Health Administration 01.04.1971
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Children; False Positive Reactions; Forearm; Guns; Humans; Injections, Intradermal; Jet injections; Medical syringes; Nozzles; Nurses; Skin; Tuberculin; Tuberculin test; Tuberculin Test - instrumentation
• ISSN: 0083-1204; 2327-6339
• DOI: 10.2307/4594173

With a sample of 48 junior high school students, a study was made of the reliability of jet gun injected tuberculin PPD-S in producing reactions of 5 mm. or more as compared with syringe and needle injected tuberculin PPD-S. The dosage of jet injected tuberculin was standardized for the study so that each jet injected tuberculin test produced an intradermal wheal comparable with that produced by syringe and needle. It was found that when set to dispense 0.14 ml. of tuberculin at each firing, the jet gun used in the study produced intradermal wheals comparable with those produced by the syringe and needle injection of 0.1 ml. of tuberculin (Mantoux test). With few exceptions, the jet injector gun produced intradermal wheals that were more sharply defined, blanched, and persistent than those produced by the syringe and needle technique. Acceptance by the students was notably good. The results of the study showed that reactions of 5 mm. or more to jet gun injected tuberculin PPD-S were not reliable as compared with syringe and needle (Mantoux) reactions. Six of 11 students with jet injector reactions of 5 through 9 mm. had positive Mantoux tests (indurations of 10 mm. or more). There was only one false-positive jet injected tuberculin test, however. Of 37 students with jet injector reactions of 10 mm. or more, 36 also had syringe and needle (Mantoux) reactions of 10 mm. or more. Positive reactions (indurations of 10 mm. or more) to jet gun injected tuberculin were reliable as compared with positive reactions to syringe and needle injected tuberculin.