Influence of needle gauge in Mantoux skin testing.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of needle gauge in Mantoux skin testing for tuberculosis.


METHODS
Randomized selection of either a 27- or 30-gauge needle for Mantoux skin test placement; observer-blinded.


METHODS
Annual hospital employee screening.


METHODS
Six hundred twenty-five employees working in clinical and laboratory research environments.


RESULTS
Blinded observers found that the use of 27-gauge needles caused increased bleeding and bruising compared with 30-gauge needles (p < or = 0.007 for each). However, the 27-gauge needle produced larger blebs and less leakage of tuberculin solution (p < or = 0.0003).


CONCLUSIONS
Smaller gauge needles could potentially cause false-negative screening results because of decreased antigen delivery. Use of needle gauges smaller than 27 gauge should be avoided until their reliability is validated.
Flynn
P M
PM
Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Shenep
J L
JL
Mao
L
L
Crawford
R
R
Williams
B F
BF
Williams
B G
BG
D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014373:Tuberculin