BSCI 424 — PATHOGENIC MICROBIOLOGY — Fall 2000

Schick Test: The intracutaneous skin test introduced by Schick in 1913 that enables us to distinguish between individuals who are susceptible and those who are resistant (i.e., immune) to diphtheria toxin and to test for sensitivity to toxoid. The test is based on the following empirical findings:

1. Intracutaneous injection of 1/50 MLD (minimal lethal dose) (for a guinea pig) of diphtheria toxin produces a strong, but tolerable, reaction in individuals having no antitoxin.



2. Individuals having 1/30 unit or more of antitoxin per ml of blood neutralize this test dose and show no reaction. Such individuals are also usually resistant to diphtheria.

REACTIONS TO SCHICK TEST

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