DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Dosage
Five (5) tuberculin units (TU) per test dose of 0.1
mL is the standard strength used for intradermal (Mantoux) testing.
Method Of Administration
TUBERSOL is indicated for intradermal injection
only. Do not inject intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously. If
subcutaneous injection occurs, the test cannot be interpreted.
Inspect for extraneous particulate matter and/or
discoloration before use. If these conditions exist, do not administer the
product.
Use a separate syringe and needle for each
injection.
The following procedure is recommended for
performing the Mantoux test:
- The preferred site of the test is the volar
aspect of the forearm. Avoid areas on the skin that are red or swollen. Avoid
visible veins.
- Clean the skin site with a suitable germicide and
allow the site to dry prior to injection of the antigen.
- Administer the test dose (0.1 mL) of TUBERSOL
with a 1 mL syringe calibrated in tenths and fitted with a short, one-quarter
to one-half inch, 26 or 27 gauge needle.
- Wipe the stopper of the vial with a suitable
germicide and allow to dry before needle insertion. Then insert the needle
gently through the stopper and draw 0.1 mL of TUBERSOL into the syringe. Avoid
injection of excess air with removal of each dose so as not to over pressurize
the vial and possibly cause seepage at the puncture site.
- Insert the point of the needle into the most
superficial layers of the skin with the needle bevel pointing upward and
administer the dose by slow intradermal injection. If the intradermal injection
is performed properly, a definite pale bleb will rise at the needle point,
about 10 mm (3/8”) in diameter. This bleb will disperse within minutes. Do not
dress the site.
- A drop of blood may appear at the administration
site following injection. Blot the site lightly to remove the blood but avoid
squeezing out the injected tuberculin test fluid.
In the event of an improperly performed injection
(ie, no bleb formed), repeat the test immediately at another site, at least 2
inches from the first site and circle the second injection site as an
indication that this is the site to be read.
Inform the patient of the need to return for the
reading of the test by a trained health professional. Self-reading may be
inaccurate and is strongly discouraged.
Interpretation Of The Test
The skin test should be read by a trained health
professional 48 to 72 hours after administration of TUBERSOL. Skin test
sensitivity is indicated by induration only; redness should not be measured.
Measure the diameter of induration transversely to the
long axis of the forearm and record the measurement in millimetres (including 0
mm). (8) The tip of a ballpoint pen, gently pushed at a 45° angle toward the
site of injection, will stop at the edge of induration.
Also record presence and size (if present) of necrosis
and edema, although these are not used in the interpretation of the test.
Positive Reactions
Tuberculin reactivity may indicate latent infection,
prior infection and/or disease with M. tuberculosis and does not necessarily
indicate the presence of active tuberculous disease. Persons showing positive
tuberculin reactions should be considered positive by current public health
guidelines and referred for further medical evaluation. (8) (10) The repeated testing
of uninfected persons does not sensitize them to TUBERSOL. (7) (8) (10) (13)
The significance of induration measurements in diagnosing
latent TB infection must be considered in terms of the patient's history and
the risk of developing active TB disease as indicated in Table 1. (10)
Table 1: Criteria for tuberculin positivity, by risk
group
Reaction ≥ 5 mm of Induration |
Reaction ≥ 10 mm of Induration |
Reaction ≥ 15 mm of Induration |
HIV-positive persons
Recent contacts of tuberculosis (TB) case patients
Fibrotic changes on chest radiograph consistent with prior TB
Patients with organ transplants and other immunosuppressed patients (receiving the equivalent of > 15 mg/d of prednisone for 1 month or more)* |
Recent immigrants (i.e., within the last 5 yrs) from high prevalence countries
Injection drug users
Residents or employees† of the following high-risk congregate settings: prisons and jails, nursing homes and other long-term facilities for the elderly, hospitals and other health care facilities, residential facilities for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and homeless shelters
Mycobacteriology laboratory personnel
Persons with the following clinical conditions that place them at high risk: silicosis, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, some hematologic disorders (e.g., leukemias and lymphomas), other specific malignancies (e.g., carcinoma of the head or neck and lung), weight loss of ≥ 10% of ideal body weight, gastrectomy and jejunoileal bypass
Children younger than 4 yrs of age or infants, children, and adolescents exposed to adults at high-risk |
Persons with no risk factors for TB |
* Risk of TB in patients treated with
corticosteroids increases with higher dose and longer duration.
†For persons who are otherwise at low risk and are tested at the start of
employment, a reaction of ≥ 15 mm induration is considered positive. |
A TST conversion is defined as an increase of
≥ 10 mm of induration within a 2-year period, regardless of age. (10)
The possibility should be considered that the skin
test sensitivity may also be due to a previous contact with atypical
mycobacteria or previous BCG vaccination. (8) (10) (13)
Negative Reactions
An individual who does not show a positive reaction
to 5 TU on the first test, but is suspected of being TB positive, may be
retested with 5 TU. (See Booster Effect and Two-Step Testing) Any
individual who does not show a positive reaction to an initial injection of 5
TU, or a second test with 5 TU may be considered as tuberculin negative.
False Positive Reactions
False positive tuberculin reactions can occur in
individuals who have been infected with other mycobacteria, including
vaccination with BCG. (8) (13) However, a diagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection
and the use of preventive therapy should be considered for any BCG-vaccinated
person who has a positive TST reaction, especially if the person has been, or
is, at increased risk of acquiring TB infection. (See INDICATIONS AND USAGE)
(15) (16)
False-Negative Reactions
Not all infected persons will have a delayed
hypersensitivity reaction to a tuberculin test.
In those who are elderly or those who are being
tested for the first time, reactions may develop slowly and may not peak until
after 72 hours.
Since tuberculin sensitivity may take up to 8 weeks
to develop following exposure to M. tuberculosis (See Mechanism of Action),
persons who have a negative tuberculin test < 8 weeks following possible TB
exposure should be retested ≥ 8-10 weeks following the last known or
suspected exposure. (17)
Altered Immune Status
Impaired or attenuated cell mediated immunity (CMI)
can potentially cause a false negative tuberculin reaction. Many factors have
been reported to cause a decreased ability to respond to the tuberculin test in
the presence of tuberculous infection including viral infections (e.g.,
measles, mumps, chickenpox and HIV), live virus vaccinations (e.g., measles,
mumps, rubella, oral polio and yellow fever), overwhelming tuberculosis, other
bacterial infections, leukemia, sarcoidosis, fungal infections, metabolic derangements,
low protein states, diseases affecting lymphoid organs, drugs (corticosteroids
and many other immunosuppressive agents), and malignancy or stress. (8) (18)
(19) A TST should be deferred for patients with major viral infections or
live-virus vaccination in the past month. Persons with the common cold may be
tuberculin tested.
Because TST results in HIV-infected individuals are
less reliable as CD4 counts decline, screening should be completed as early as
possible after HIV-infection occurs. (19)
Booster Effect And Two-Step Testing
If tuberculin testing will be conducted at regular
intervals, for instance among health-care workers or prison workers, two-step
testing should be performed as a baseline to avoid interpreting a booster
effect as a tuberculin conversion. If the first test showed either no reaction
or a small reaction, the second test should be performed one to four weeks
later. Both tests should be read and recorded at 48 to 72 hours. Patients with
a second tuberculin test (booster) response of ≥ 10 mm should be
considered to have experienced past TB infection. (15) (20)
Persons who do not boost when given repeat tests at
one week, but whose tuberculin reactions change to positive after one year,
should be considered to have newly acquired tuberculosis infection and managed
accordingly. (7)
HOW SUPPLIED
TUBERSOL, Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative
(Mantoux), bioequivalent to 5 US units (TU) PPD-S per test dose (0.1 mL) is
supplied in:
10-test vial, 1 mL. NDC No. 49281-752-78; package of
1 vial, NDC No. 49281-752-21
50-test vial, 5 mL. NDC No. 49281-752-98; package of
1 vial, NDC No. 49281-752-22
The stopper of the vial for this product does not
contain natural latex rubber.
Storage
Store at 2° to 8°C (35° to 46°F). (21) Do not
freeze. Discard product if exposed to freezing.
Protect from light. Tuberculin
PPD solutions can be adversely affected by exposure to light. The product
should be stored in the dark except when doses are actually being withdrawn
from the vial. (22)
A vial of TUBERSOL which has been
entered and in use for 30 days should be discarded. (23)
Do not use after expiration date.
REFERENCES
5 Landi S, et al. Disparity of potency between
stabilized and nonstabilized dilute tuberculin solutions. Am Rev Respir Dis
1971;104:385-393.
7 Menzies D. Interpretation of repeated tuberculin
tests. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1999;159:15-21.
8 American Thoracic Society: Diagnostic standards
and classification of tuberculosis in adults and children. Am J Respir Crit
Care Med 2000;161:1376-1395.
9 CDC. Updated Guidelines for Using Interferon Gamma
Release Assays to Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection - United States,
2010. MMWR 2010; 59 (RR-5):1-25.
10 CDC. Targeted tuberculin testing and treatment of
latent tuberculosis infection. MMWR 2000;49(RR-6):23-5.
11 Froeschle JE, et al. Immediate hypersensitivity
reactions after use of tuberculin skin testing. Clin Infect Dis 2002;34:e12-13.
12 Brickman HF, et al. The timing of tuberculin
tests in relation to immunization with live viral vaccines. Pediatrics:
1975;55:392-396.
13 Huebner RE, et al. Tuberculosis commentary: the
tuberculin skin test. Clin Infect Dis 1993;17:968-75.
14 CDC. General recommendations on immunization:
recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and
the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). MMWR 2002;51(RR-2):1-35.
15 CDC. Guidelines for preventing the transmission
of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care settings, 2005. MMWR
2005;54(RR-17):1-141.
16 CDC. The role of BCG vaccine in the prevention
and control of tuberculosis in the United States. A joint statement by the
Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis and the Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices. MMWR 1996; 45(RR-4):8-9.
17 CDC. Guidelines for the Investigation of Contacts
of Persons with Infectious Tuberculosis: Recommendations from the National
Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC. MMWR 2005;54(RR-15):1-47.
18 Mori and Shiozawa. Suppression of tuberculin
hypersensitivity caused by rubella infection. Am Rev Respir Dis 1985;886-888.
19 CDC. Guidelines for prevention and treatment of
opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents.
Recommendations from the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV
Medicine Association of Infectious Diseases Society of America. MMWR
2009;58(RR-4):1-207.
20 CDC. Prevention and control of tuberculosis in
correctional and detention facilities: Recommendations from the CDC. MMWR
2006;55(RR-9):1-44.
21 Landi S, et al. Stability of dilute solution of
tuberculin purified protein derivative at extreme temperatures. J Biol Stand
1981;9:195-199.
22 Landi S, et al. Effect of light on tuberculin
purified protein derivative solutions. Am Rev Respir Dis 1975;111:52-61.
23 Landi S, et al. Effect of oxidation on the
stability of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) In: International
Symposium on Tuberculins and BCG Vaccine. Basel: International Association of
Biological Standardization, 1983. Dev Biol Stand 1986;58:545-552.
Manufactured by: Sanofi Pasteur Limited, Toronto
Ontario Canada. Distributed by: Sanofi Pasteur Inc., Swiftwater PA 18370 USA. Revised: March
2013