Tuberculin

Tuberculin, also known as Purified Protein Derivative (PPD), is a substance used in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). It is a mixture of proteins that are extracted from the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB.

History

Tuberculin was first developed by Robert Koch in 1890. Koch originally believed that tuberculin could be used as a therapeutic agent to treat TB, but it was later found to be ineffective for this purpose. However, it was discovered that tuberculin could be used as a diagnostic tool to detect a TB infection.

Use in Tuberculosis Testing

Tuberculin is used in the Tuberculin skin test, also known as the Mantoux test. In this test, a small amount of tuberculin is injected under the skin. If a person has been infected with TB, their immune system will react to the tuberculin, causing a raised, hard bump or swelling at the site of the injection.

Preparation

Tuberculin is prepared by growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a liquid medium, then heat-killing the bacteria and harvesting the proteins. The proteins are then purified to remove any contaminants.

Side Effects

Possible side effects of the tuberculin skin test include pain and redness at the injection site. In rare cases, a severe allergic reaction may occur.

See Also

• Tuberculosis
• Mantoux test
• Robert Koch

Tuberculin Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia