Tuberculin

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]


Tuberculin Resources

Find a healthcare provider anywhere in the world quickly and easily!

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD