@article{14069,
  keywords = {Antigens, Cell Count, False Negative Reactions, False Positive Reactions, Humans, Lepromin, leprosy, Skin Tests},
  author = {HANKS J H and Nakayama T and Abe M and TUMA M and Bechelli L M and Martinez Dominguez V},
  title = {Studies towards the standardization of lepromin. Progress and prospects.},
  abstract = {<p>Because of the wide range of concentrations of Mycobacterium leprae in existing lepromins the authors studied methods of producing a standardizable lepromin containing 160 million bacilli/ml. The effects of using different dilutions of lepromin on the incidence of false-positive reactions were also studied.Progress reported includes a convenient method for preparing large batches of non-sedimenting lepromin, which is directly suitable for microscopic counting of Myco. leprae cells; and a validation of current methods for microscopic enumeration of Myco. leprae. Skin tests with diluted lepromins have demonstrated that dilutions up to 1:16 increase progressively the ability to distinguish between lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy. This work has provided further evidence that 20 million bacilli/ml (a 1:8 dilution of the initial lepromin) should produce adequate Mitsuda reactions in general populations, provided that 3-mm reactions are taken as the criterion for 1+ positivity. The net effect of these findings is equivalent to expanding the world supply of lepromin by 8 times.Recommendations for further research are proposed.</p>},
  year = {1970},
  journal = {Bulletin of the World Health Organization},
  volume = {42},
  pages = {703-9},
  month = {1970},
  issn = {0042-9686},
  url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2427501/pdf/bullwho00216-0054.pdf},
  language = {eng},
}