Tuberculin test measurement: Variability due to the time of reading

Study objectives: It is recommended that the PPD Mantoux tuberculin test be read at 48 or 72 h. We have compared the measurements at these time points. Design: A 10-tuberculin unit (TU) PPD Mantoux test was administered to 116 healthy subjects (76.7% with bacillus Calmette-Guérin scars). Participants: One hundred sixteen healthy adult volunteers were recruited (health service employees, 29 volunteers; general public, 87 volunteers). Results: The measurements made at 72 h were significantly higher than those made at 48 h (median, 9.4 vs 4.95 mm, respectively; p = 0.017). In those subjects with induration at either or both time points (n = 69), the readings taken at 72 h were on average 1.7 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.4 to 3.0 mm) larger than those at 48 h. Using an induration of > 15 mm diameter to define a positive result, there were more positive test results at 72 h (36) compared to 48 h (28), with the results from 10 subjects (8.5%) changing because of the time of measurement. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that, in adults, the size of the 10-TU Mantoux reaction is significantly larger at 72 h compared to the reaction at 48 h. In clinical practice, tuberculin tests should be read at 72 h as negative tests at 48 h may be false results.