The Mono-Vacc Tuberculin Skin Test

¹ Departments of Pulmonary Disease, USAF Hospital Scott, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
² Departments of Pulmonary Disease, USAF Hospital Scott, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois; Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
³ Thoracic Surgery, USAF Hospital Scott, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
⁴ Tuberculosis Control, USAF Hospital Scott, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

The Mono-Vacc tuberculin test was evaluated in a group of 1,423 individuals, the standard for comparison being simultaneously administered Mantoux (PPD, 5 TU). In approximately one-half of these individuals, it was compared with the tine tuberculin test as well. The Mono-Vacc test was found to be acceptable for screening patients for tuberculin sensitivity. It was easily applied, highly acceptable to patients, and produced readily measurable induration. False negative reactions occurred in 1.2 percent which is within the intratest variability of the Mantoux test and thus unlikely to be statistically significant. The primary limiting factor was an 8.4 percent incidence of false positive reactions. However, the ease with which this test is applied would appear to more than compensate for the time spent in retesting with the Mantoux those who prove to be false positives. The tine tuberculin test was found to give similar results, but was more difficult to read and was less acceptable to patients.