Diaskintest - what is it and how is it done?

How does Diaskintest differ from the Mantoux reaction?

Due to the fact that the drug DIASKINTEST contains proteins that cause an immune response only to the presence of pathogenic (capable of causing disease) mycobacterium tuberculosis, the test has a higher sensitivity compared to the Mantoux river (the ability to detect infection in those who actually have it ) and, most importantly, higher specificity (the ability to give a negative reaction in those who do not have an infection).

Mantoux, Diaskintest test, Quantiferon test or T.SPOT? How do the methods for diagnosing tuberculosis differ and which one to choose?

How to do Diaskintest for a child

The test is carried out strictly according to schedule. If we are talking about routine diagnostics, which are carried out annually in educational institutions, then at intervals of one year for all children over eight years of age. But this does not mean that the drug is prohibited for young children.

Diaskintest can be used as early as a year, but during this period it is not the drug of choice for a pediatrician. And it is used only to clarify the diagnosis in case of a positive Mantoux test.

If the patient is being treated for tuberculosis or is registered with a TB specialist, more frequent diagnosis may be required. The test is prescribed every three to six months and the result is assessed to determine the effectiveness of treatment.

On the eve of the diagnosis at school, parents are given statements of consent or refusal to perform the test. Every parent has the right to refuse it, but whether it is worth doing is not an idle question. Refusal can result in a latent course of the disease during the initial period of its development, when it can be overcome with treatment that is gentle on the child. An accurate and sensitive test that does not give “false-positive” results when performed correctly and following the doctor’s recommendations will allow you to detect the disease in time and prescribe timely therapy.

The test is performed in children's clinics, commercial clinics or in medical offices of schools. Special preparation for it is not required, it is only enough that the child is healthy. Diaskintest is not done for a runny nose or cold - only after complete recovery.

As they do not do when:

exacerbation of a chronic disease;
severe skin reactions;
allergic condition;
epilepsy.

“The drug is injected under the skin with a special syringe,” commented pediatrician Alexander Ushakov. — It has a thin short needle with an oblique cut. The skin is first wiped with a sterile cotton swab. The procedure is almost painless."

Parent Questions

Is it possible to do Diaskintest if allergies worsen?

Yes, but against the background of desensitizing therapy (5 days before and 2 days after the test).

Is it possible to eat sweets while on Diaskintest?

Can. But if you know that sweets can provoke an exacerbation of skin allergies, then it is better not to give them to your child.

Is it possible to do Diaskintest with a runny nose?

Yes, if it is not accompanied by an increase in temperature.

Is it possible to do Diaskintest immediately after an illness?

You should wait 2-3 days after the temperature has returned to normal. Residual runny nose and cough are not a contraindication and will not affect the results of Diaskintest.

Can Diaskintest provoke tuberculosis?

Preparations for Diaskintest are obtained from genetically modified strains of Escherichia coli, which in no case can cause the development of tuberculosis. Diaskintest is usually very well tolerated, only in rare cases there is a short-term and slight increase in temperature, mild headache and malaise.

Is it possible to wet Diaskintest and is it possible to go to the pool after Diaskintest?

Yes, you can wet Diaskintest and wash yourself. But it is still better to avoid exposure to chemical irritants (shampoos, reagents in the pool). Also try to prevent the child from scratching the sample.

What should a child not do after Diaskintest?

You should not rub or scratch the injection site, or apply any chemicals (iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, creams) to it; for the same reason, you should not visit the pool. Everything else (walking, swimming, eating everything that does not cause an allergic reaction in your child) is possible.

What to do if a purple bruise remains after Diaskintest?

Don't worry ahead of time. Firstly, the bruise may completely disappear by the time of the test. Secondly, the size of the bruise also matters. During the test, the doctor will measure your reaction to the test and give you precise instructions on what to do next.

Can there be a fever after Diaskintest?

Yes, elevated temperature after Diaskintest in children is quite possible. Usually the discomfort does not last long and goes away on its own without treatment. What to do if you have a high temperature after Diaskintest? Most likely, it is associated not with the tests being carried out, but with ARVI or another disease that coincided with the time of Diaskintest.

Is it possible to get vaccinated after Diaskintest?

The interval between vaccinations (including BCG) and Diaskintest should be at least 1 month. If the Diaskintest result is negative, you can start vaccination immediately after the test.

Is it possible to do Diaskintest after Mantoux?

Yes, you can do Diaskintest after the Mantoux test.

Is it possible to refuse Diaskintest?

Yes, you can refuse Diaskintest and replace it with other tests for tuberculosis, such as the Mantoux test, quantiferon test or T-spot, as well as fluorography for children 15-17 years old. We do not advise you to refuse tuberculosis tests as such: the epidemic situation in Russia remains tense.

You can always ask all your questions and consult about Diaskintest in your particular case with our pediatricians by phone: +7 812 331 00 00.

What is Diaskintest at school

Russia is one of the few countries in the world where vaccination against tuberculosis is mandatory. Each child is given the BCG vaccine at birth, and then, several years later, according to the National Preventive Vaccination Calendar, revaccination is carried out. Thanks to this systematic approach, our country maintains a low incidence of tuberculosis.

However, such cases still occur. Tuberculosis is an insidious disease and can affect people with reduced immunity. Special tests can determine the presence of a pathogen in the body. Previously, only the Mantoux test was used for this purpose. There were no alternatives to it, so doctors had to put up with its “shortcomings.”

Firstly, a positive reaction, which often occurs not at all as a response to infection, but after BCG vaccination. Secondly, a positive reaction can persist for many years in people who have had the disease, but no longer pose a danger to others.

When testing a child and receiving a positive result, the doctor always has a difficult decision to make. Additional diagnostics, specific treatment - all this may not be necessary, but is prescribed by a specialist to dispel doubts.

With the advent of Diaskintest, these shortcomings are a thing of the past. The drug does not react with strains that are introduced into the body during vaccination. It is a combination of antigens of two types of tuberculosis bacteria that most often cause the disease. If these bacteria are not in the body, then there will be no reaction. Therefore, the question - which is better, Mantoux or Diaskintest - was decided by the Ministry of Health back in 2009.

“According to general recommendations, children aged one to seven years are given a Mantoux test,” said pediatrician Alexander Ushakov. - After eight years and up to 17 years - only Diaskintest. This drug is also used in adults. In addition, it is prescribed for the diagnosis of tuberculosis if the Mantoux test gives a positive result. Then Mantoux and Diaskintest are carried out almost simultaneously, a few days later.”

Is it possible to play sports after Mantoux?

Physical activity can provoke a false positive reaction to the drug. Regular exercise strengthens the child’s immunity, but after the test the intensity of exercise should be reduced. A person playing sports can injure the injection site, which may result in distorted test results.

It is not recommended to engage in exercise that results in excessive sweating and skin irritation.

Sometimes physical activity can cause injuries and the appearance of microcracks at the site of sample insertion. You should not completely give up sports and exercise. After Diaskintest, you can run and ride a bike, do exercises and therapeutic exercises.

What you can and cannot eat after vaccination

After the Diaskintest injection, strict rules regarding the choice of food are not established. You can eat and drink everything that is usually included in the menu. You shouldn’t limit yourself; you can eat sweets and enjoy your favorite foods. Although, of course, you shouldn’t eat desserts alone either. A reasonable approach to nutrition after an injection is to exclude foods that can trigger an allergic reaction. In addition, foods that are highly allergenic should be removed from the child’s diet:

oranges, tangerines and other citrus fruits;
chocolate;
red apples;
nuts.

You should not feed your baby new exotic foods; they can cause an unpredictable reaction. The menu should remain the same as the child is accustomed to.

Other restrictions

Doctors do not recommend actively engaging in sports after Diaskintest, because increased physical activity causes profuse sweating, and sweat is an irritating factor that can cause a skin reaction in the form of redness and itching. The result in this case may be false positive.

After Diaskintest, you should not expose your body to sudden temperature changes: take long walks in the cold in winter or stay in the sun for a long time in summer. All this can have a distorting effect and lead to “blurred” results.

It is better to give up alcohol within 72 hours, as alcohol can change the severity of the reaction, and the result may also be false.

What else cannot be done after Diaskintest

The test is considered the most accurate diagnostic test. The effectiveness of Diaskintest is 98-100%, therefore, in case of any distortion, doctors interpret them as an indicator of the presence of tuberculosis. In this case, you will need to undergo tests to clarify or refute the diagnosis.

To determine the presence or absence of latent infection bacteria in the blood before and after the test, you should follow simple rules:

Any damage to the skin can give a false result. Do not comb or rub the sample.
It is not recommended to expose the Diaskintest injection site to temperature changes, go out into the cold or in strong sunlight. You cannot visit the solarium or perform other cosmetic procedures.
In order not to distort the test results, you should not smear the injection site with cream, iodine, brilliant green and other antiseptic solutions. Do not allow household detergents and cleaning products to come into contact with the vaccine administration site.
Do not apply compresses, patches or bandages to the injection site.

Any medical interventions are not permitted during the test period. If surgery is indicated, the patient must inform the doctor about the presence of Diaskintest.

Diaskintest and beer

Diaskintest and beer are incompatible. If a person has been tested, it is better not to drink alcoholic beverages.

When taken in large quantities, the immune function is suppressed and health worsens. Therefore, the sample may be unreliable. But the reaction is typical for patients who abuse beer and other alcohol.

A repeat test will be required, which can only be done 6 months after the previous test. During this time, the bacteria will spread throughout the body, causing damage to the lungs, kidneys and other organs.

If a person drinks a small amount of the drink, no negative effect will occur.

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After how many days is Diaskintest checked?

Immediately after administration of the drug, a papule may form at the injection site, which usually disappears quickly. But the final result of the Diaskintest is assessed only after 72 hours. The specialist evaluates the injection site visually and is guided by the severity of the reaction.

Norm . There is no redness or hardness at the injection site. Only a trace of the wound may be observed when a needle with a diameter of up to two millimeters is inserted. This result indicates that the diaskintest is negative, that is, there is no tuberculosis pathogen in the body.
Questionable reaction . In this case, there may be redness at the injection site. In this case, there should be no infiltration, that is, compaction. A questionable reaction is not an indicator of a bad diaskintest, but requires attention from the doctor to the patient.
Pronounced reaction . It can be mild - in which a dense papule up to 5 mm in size forms and persists. Moderately expressed - in which the infiltrate can reach 9 mm. Or pronounced - when the size of the compaction reaches 14 mm. With a diameter of 15 mm or more, we are talking about a hyperergic reaction. In each case, the diaskintest is considered positive, that is, it may indicate the presence of the tuberculosis pathogen in the body.

“We can definitely say that the test is bad if there is an infiltrate of any size,” clarifies Alexander Ushakov. “With a high degree of probability, it indicates tuberculosis infection. But sometimes an allergic reaction to the components of the drug may occur. Therefore, if the test is questionable or positive, the patient must be examined and examined by a phthisiatrician to exclude infection or tuberculosis.”

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Contraindications to the procedure

This sample belongs to the new generation of drugs. It was developed with the help of modern technologies, taking into account all the external negative factors that affect people of the present time - poor environment, poor diet, busy work schedule and lack of sleep, etc. Therefore, the drug is maximally adapted for people with weak immune systems and is well tolerated by patients.

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What causes a bruise after Diaskintest?

But still it is not ideal, as it has its contraindications:

The presence of an inflammatory process in the patient's body. This can be determined by first passing a general or clinical blood test. The ESR indicators will let you know whether it is possible to test for tuberculosis.
The presence of a respiratory or viral disease with both obvious and hidden signs. This can be determined by cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat and enlarged lymph nodes, as well as by the same blood test.
Individual intolerance to the drug, which is accompanied by allergic outbreaks. A doctor can determine this in a laboratory setting. If the patient is highly sensitive to the active substance of the drug, the tuberculosis test is canceled.

Diaskintest can be performed on pregnant women or not - doctors and patients themselves decide. If there is at least one contraindication, the procedure is strictly prohibited. A woman can refuse a tuberculosis test at her own request.