Schick test

The Schick test, invented between 1910and 1911, is a test used to determine whether or not a person is susceptible to diphtheria. It was named after its inventor, Béla Schick(1877-1967), a Hungarian-born American pediatrician. The test is a simple procedure. A small amount (0.1 ml) of diluted (1/50 MLD) diptheria toxin is injected intradermally into the arm of the person. If a person does not have enough antibodiesto fight it off, the skin around the injection will become red and swollen (positive result). This swelling disappears after a few days. If the person has immunity, then little or no swelling and redness will occur (negative result).

References

• Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary - 20th Ed. (2005)

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schick+test Wikipedia article Schick test.