1 Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Medical School, The Children's Memorial Hospital, 2300 Children's Plaza, Chicago
An improved multiple puncture technique (MPT) for tuberculin testing is applied with a nine-pointed plastic ring covered by a tube containing a specially concentrated liquid tuberculin. A high degree of positive and negative agreement was obtained with this test when compared to the Mantoux test (PPD, 5 TU). The reactions from the multiple puncture technique are discrete, single, and circular, and they are easy to read and measure.
Erythema and induration from this test are smaller than from the Mantoux test (PPD, 5 TU). Children appear to show less fear and felt less pain with the multiple point test than with the Mantoux test. "Wet" tuberculin on multiple points eliminates two possible variables associated with "dry" tuberculin on the pointsthe length of time that the tines are held in the skin and the moisture content of the skin.
Submitted on November 9, 1967