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Mantoux Tuberculosis Skin Test Facilitator GuideReturn to Mantoux TB Skin Test Facilitator Guide Main Page Part Two: Reading the Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test
The last part of the procedure is to read the Mantoux tuberculin skin test. The method demonstrated in this videotape is based on the palpation method. The steps include collecting supplies; inspecting the site; palpating, marking, and measuring the induration; and recording the measurement. There are several different methods for reading the Mantoux tuberculin skin test, and they can vary among facilities. For each facility, everyone reading the skin test should receive training in and use the same method. A great deal of practice is required to achieve consistently reliable measurements. The skin test should be read between 48 and 72 hours after the skin test has been administered. A patient who doesn't return within 72 hours will probably need to be rescheduled for another skin test. To begin, collect the following supplies: a small, plastic, flexible ruler marked in millimeters to measure the test, a pen to mark the edges of the induration, and an alcohol pad to clean off the pen marks. You'll need the patient's record or other appropriate forms for documenting the measurement results.
Also have culturally appropriate patient education materials available for the patient to reinforce information that is explained to the patient, help answer questions, and provide information on follow-up evaluation.
To locate the skin-test site, inspect the arm in good light and on a firm surface. When the site is on the forearm, turn the arm palm up, support it, and slightly flex it at the elbow. The basis of reading the skin test is the presence or absence of induration, which is a hard, dense, raised formation. This is the area that is measured. Sometimes the site has erythema, a reddening of the skin that can also have swelling. The erythema should NOT be measured. Whatever induration is present at 48 to 72 hours should be measured and recorded. Only the part of the reaction that can be felt, which is the induration, is measured, even if there is soft swelling or redness at the site. Keep in mind there might not be an induration. Reactions to the tuberculin test at the injection site can range from no induration to a large, well-defined induration. In order to feel the induration properly, keep your fingernails short enough so that they don't protrude beyond the finger. The induration is not always visible, so you must rely on palpation with your fingertips to discover if there's induration at the site. With your fingers together, touch the area lightly with the pads of your fingertips. Using a light, gentle motion, sweep the fingertips over the surface of the forearm in a 2-inch diameter in all four directions to locate the margins or edges of induration.
If induration is present, use a zigzag, feather-like touch over the area of induration to outline the margins of induration. Determining margins all around the induration helps to find the edges, which will be measured later. When palpating for margins, be careful not to confuse a margin of induration with a margin of muscle on the forearm. To check this, raise the patient's arm to a 45-degree angle and palpate again. You should still be able to palpate the margins of induration. The diameter of the induration is measured across the forearm, from the thumb side of the arm to the little finger side of the arm or vice versa.
To mark the edges of the induration, hold your palm over the injection site with your fingertips at the outer edge of the patient's forearm. Without lifting, move the fingertips from the outer edge of the forearm towards the induration. Rest one fingertip firmly against the induration margin border on one side before marking the margin. The fingertip should remain in contact with the skin at all times. Mark lightly with a fine dot at the widest edge of the induration, using the fingertip as a guide. Repeat the procedure from the other side of the patient's forearm and place the second mark on the margin of induration. Palpate again to double check that the induration was marked correctly. If the margin is not equally clear all the way around the induration, it's still necessary to mark the margins on each side of the induration. Palpate around the induration from the easily felt margin to the not-so-easily-felt margin. If the margins of induration are irregular, mark and measure the longest diameter across the forearm. To measure the diameter of the induration, use the millimeter ruler. Place the zero ruler line inside the left dot edge and read the ruler line inside the right dot edge. If the measurement falls between two divisions on the millimeter scale, record the lower mark. The induration shown here measures 10 mm. Reactions to the skin test will vary. For example, this is a very large reaction with blistering, swelling, and redness. Make sure to record blistering, even if no induration is present. Palpate this induration gently, as it may be painful. Measure only the induration. This reaction measures 17 mm. There is redness and swelling in this reaction, but there is no induration. Because only the margins of induration are significant, the redness and swelling should not be mistakenly measured. Therefore, the measurement of this induration is 0 mm. Immediately after the test is measured, write the exact measurement in millimeters of induration on the patient's record. Do not simply record the interpretation of the results as "negative" or "positive," and do not record the results in centimeters. For example, an induration that measures 3 mm should be recorded as "3 mm" and not as "negative." Additional information should include the date and time the test was read, the name and signature of the person who read the skin test, and the presence or absence of adverse effects. State or local policies may require additional documentation of adverse effects.
Accurately reading and recording skin test measurement results is important and gives the health care provider useful information for evaluation. Results are often used as a baseline or as a comparison with past or future test results. Interpretation should be performed by a trained health care provider in accordance with institutional policies based on CDC guidelines. Check your institution's policy for evaluation and referral procedures.
Reliable reading of the tuberculin skin test requires a great deal of practice and adherence to appropriate steps for quality control. The steps in this method include standardization of procedures, training, supervision, and practice. This may include periodic standardized reliability testing.
Last Reviewed: 05/18/2008 |
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Centers for Disease Control & Prevention |
