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.
Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
P M
PM
Flynn
J L
JL
Shenep
L
L
Mao
R
R
Crawford
B F
BF
Williams
B G
BG
Williams
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