Solid, fragmented and granular index as one of the parameters in drug trials.

A bacteriological study of the skin smears of 108 bacteriologically positive cases of leprosy, 30 of them untreated, has been undertaken. In each case solid, fragmented and granular (SFG) index, bacteriological index (BI) and morphological index (MI) of skin smears from 4 sites were calculated. The results show that SFG index together with BI can be used as one of the parameters in drug trials. The importance of SFG index in research and as a routine laboratory procedure in leprosy control units undertaking multi drug therapy is discussed.