TUBERCULIN, PURIFIED PROTEIN DERIVATIVE (PPD)

Heat-treated products of growth and lysis of appropriate Mycobacterium species used for the Mantoux test, which tests hypersensitivity to tuberculoprotein

Dosage Forms

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Injection

100 IU/ml

Uses

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  • Hypersensitivity to tuberculoprotein

Dose and Duration

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Diagnosis of hypersensitivity to tuberculoprotein

Give 0.1 ml (10 IU) by intradermal injection.

Contra-indications

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  • Do not use within 4 weeks of receiving a live viral vaccine.

Side Effects

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  • Nausea
  • Headache, malaise
  • Rash
  • Local reactions (swelling, pain, redness)

Interactions

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  • Live vaccines (reduced response to tuberculin)

Pregnancy

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  • Can be used.

Breast-feeding

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  • Can be used.

⚠️ Caution

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  • A positive tuberculin test indicates previous exposure to mycobacterial antigens, which could have been through infection with one of the tubercle bacilli or through BCG vaccination.
  • The tuberculin test is of limited diagnostic value as it does not distinguish between tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections, between active and silent disease or between acquired infection and BCG vaccination-induced seroconversion.
  • Viral infection, sarcoidosis, corticosteroid therapy or immunosuppression may also suppress response to the tuberculin test.