A MODIFICATION OF THE LEPROMIN TEST

Lepromin is an antigen prepared by grinding 1 'gm. of autocJaved bacteriologically positive tissue in 20 ml. of normal saline, a concen tration of 1 :20.The test is made by injecting 0.1 ml.intradermally.At the end of 24 to 48 hours, there is a tuberculin like response which rapidly fades, to be succeeded in most instances by a nodular infiltra tion which reaches its maximum size in three to four weeks.The early reaction is allergic, less constant, and may include a non-specific element due to tissue debris; the late result, the Mitsuda reaction, is thought to depend on the presence of whole bacilli and to indicate resistance to infection, because those with a negative Mitsuda develop the more serious fo rms of leprosy, and those with a strongly positive reaction, the milder fo rms.The late reaction is measured as fo llows :-Infiltrations of 1 and 2 mm.are designated ± doubtful Infiltrations of 3 and 4 mm.are designated + weakly positive Infiltrations of 5 rom.and over are designated + + positive Ulceration is designated + + + strongly positive.It is this late reaction which is referred to as the lepromin test in this report.