Assessment of cell-mediated immunity in a British population using multiple skin test antigens.
An in vivo method of assessing the competence of the cell-mediated immune system (Multitest CMI) was used in 200 healthy volunteers (age range 17-88 years). The profile of reactivity to seven individual antigens was determined. A positive reaction was obtained in 96.5% of the subjects who reacted positively to at least one antigen with 78% reacting to two or more antigens. The number of positive responses and the degree of reactivity was significantly reduced in elderly subjects and in females aged 17-65 years. The Multitest CMI system provides a rapid and convenient method of assessing cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in vivo and could have a wide range of applications in the investigation of immunological, infective and neoplastic conditions.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D006113:United Kingdom
D000939:Epitopes