@article{9965,
  keywords = {Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Lepromin, leprosy},
  author = {Bharadwaj V P and Katoch K},
  title = {Detection of subclinical infection in leprosy: an 8 years follow-up study.},
  abstract = {<p>A follow-up study has been carried out using Fluorescent Leprosy Antibody Absorption (FLA-ABS) test in 1069 healthy contacts of multi and pauci-bacillary leprosy patients. Simultaneously lepromin testing with Dharmendra antigen has also been done to determine their delayed type hypersensitivity. In nearly 8 years of follow-up, 46 contacts have developed disease and of these 41 contacts were FLA-ABS positive and lepromin negative. It is inferred that test (along with lepromin) can be used to identify the contacts who are at higher risk of developing the disease. FLA-ABS test has also been found to be highly sensitive for detection of subclinical infection specially in younger age groups. This test could therefore serve as a very sensitive epidemiological tool for assessing the extent of disease in the community and for monitoring the transmission of disease especially after MDT and other intervention measures.</p>},
  year = {1989},
  journal = {Indian journal of leprosy},
  volume = {61},
  pages = {495-502},
  month = {1989 Oct},
  issn = {0254-9395},
  language = {eng},
}