Comparison of a New Mono-Vacc Tuberculin Test with the Mantoux Test

¹ Director, Division of Tuberculosis Control, Erie County Department of Health, Buffalo, New York

A new Mono-Vacc tuberculin test using PPD as the antigen was evaluated by comparing it with the Mantoux test (PPD-S, 5 TU), on 2,657 subjects including students, penitentiary inmates, and diagnosed tuberculosis patients. All tests were read 48 hours after administration, with each test read independently without the reader's knowledge of the reaction on the contralateral arm. Results of the tesb were measured in millimeters of induration and are reported in tables as negative, doubtful or positive, according to the size of the induration. Combined results of all groups tested reveal excellent correlation between the two tests with 0.1 percent Mono-Vacc false positives and 1.4 percent Mono-Vacc false negatives, using the Mantoux as the standard test. Advantages of the Mono-Vacc method of testing include ease of administration, a well-defined, single, circular reaction which is easy to read and is generally smaller than that of the Mantoux, and exceptionally good patient acceptance.