A RAPID TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING-PROGRAM FOR NEW MOTHERS WHO HAVE HAD NO PRENATAL-CARE

We developed a Rapid Tuberculosis Screening Program for use in women who have not had prenatal care. All patients who presented for delivery without a documented tuberculin skin test (TBN-ST) were given a symptom questionnaire. Those who had a positive response to any of the questions received a chest roentgenogram to rule out active disease. All patients with a negative questionnaire had a TBN-ST soon after admission. The test was read at the time of discharge, whether or not 48 h had elapsed, and individuals who had 5 mm or more of induration at before 48 h and 10 mm or more induration at 48 to 72 h were considered reactors. Of 1,412 patients who received a TBN-ST, 259 were reactors. One case of active disease was diagnosed. Approximately 75 percent of ''true'' tuberculin reactors will be detected by this method. We suggest that by using the TBN-ST concurrently with a questionnaire, most patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be identified.