mantoux test
LowTechnical/Medical
Definition
Meaning
A skin test for detecting tuberculosis infection.
A diagnostic procedure involving an intradermal injection of tuberculin (purified protein derivative) to assess the body's cell-mediated immune response. The resulting skin reaction is measured after 48-72 hours; an indurated (hardened) swelling of a certain size indicates likely past or present infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a noun phrase. The term refers to the specific method (intradermal injection) developed by Charles Mantoux. It is distinct from the 'tine test' (a multiple-puncture test) and 'interferon-gamma release assays' (blood tests). It's a screening, not a definitive diagnostic test for active TB.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and terminology are identical. Spelling conventions (e.g., 'tuberculosis' vs. 'tuberculous') do not apply to the term itself. It is a proper eponym.
Connotations
None. Purely clinical.
Frequency
Used with equal, low frequency in both medical communities. More common in public health and paediatrics contexts than in general conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [patient/child] had a Mantoux test.The [nurse/doctor] performed/read the Mantoux test.A positive Mantoux test indicates [possible infection/a need for further testing].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Academic
Used in medical and public health research papers, textbooks, and lectures.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of a medical context or personal health experience.
Technical
The standard term in clinical guidelines, nursing protocols, and laboratory medicine for this specific intradermal tuberculin test.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The Mantoux-test results were documented.
- Follow the Mantoux-test protocol.
American English
- The Mantoux test results were documented.
- Follow the Mantoux test protocol.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Children often have a Mantoux test before starting school.
- The nurse said my Mantoux test was negative.
- A positive Mantoux test does not necessarily mean you have active tuberculosis; it indicates exposure at some point.
- The school required proof of a recent Mantoux test or BCG vaccination.
- The public health strategy involved performing Mantoux tests on all close contacts of the index case, followed by chest X-rays for those with induration greater than 15mm.
- False-positive Mantoux test reactions can occur in individuals who have received the BCG vaccine or are infected with non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Mantoux Test: Man-to-arm test (a test from a man, Mantoux, that goes into your arm).
Conceptual Metaphor
A WINDOW INTO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM (the skin reaction reveals hidden immune memory).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation ('проба Манту' is correct). Do not translate 'test' as 'тест' in this fixed medical term; it remains 'проба'.
- Note: In Russian medical context, the reaction size is measured in 'millimetres', similar to English practice.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronunciation: /manˈtoʊks/ or /ˈmæntɒks/. Correct: /ˌmænˈtuː/.
- Misspelling: 'Mantaux', 'Manteux', 'Mantu'.
- Using as a verb: Incorrect: 'He was mantouxed.' Correct: 'He had a Mantoux test.'
Practice
Quiz
What does a Mantoux test directly measure?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It can yield false positives (e.g., from BCG vaccination) and false negatives (e.g., in immunocompromised individuals). It is a screening tool.
A positive test shows an area of induration (firm swelling), not just redness, at the injection site after 48-72 hours. The size threshold for positivity depends on the person's risk factors.
He was a French physician who, in 1907, refined the intradermal technique for the tuberculin test, making it more reliable than the earlier subcutaneous method.
No. The test uses purified protein derivative (tuberculin), which contains no live bacteria and cannot cause infection.