Kveim test

Kveim test is a skin test used in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, a disease involving abnormal collections of inflammatory cells that form lumps known as granulomas. The test involves the injection of a preparation of sarcoid tissue into the skin of a person suspected of having the disease. If granulomas similar to those found in sarcoidosis form at the site of injection, the test is considered positive.

History

The Kveim test was first described in 1941 by the Norwegian pathologist Morten Ansgar Kveim. The test was widely used in the 1960s and 1970s, but its use has declined due to concerns about the safety of the test material and the development of more accurate diagnostic methods.

Procedure

The Kveim test involves injecting a small amount of a preparation made from the spleen or lymph nodes of a person with sarcoidosis into the skin of the person being tested. The test is usually performed on the forearm. If the person being tested has sarcoidosis, a granuloma will usually form at the site of injection within 4 to 6 weeks.

Accuracy

The Kveim test is not 100% accurate. False positives can occur if the person being tested has another disease that can cause granulomas to form, such as tuberculosis or leprosy. False negatives can occur if the person being tested has a weak immune response.

Safety

The safety of the Kveim test has been a concern because the test material is made from human tissue, which could potentially transmit infectious diseases. However, no cases of disease transmission have been reported.

Alternatives

The Kveim test is not commonly used today because more accurate and safer methods of diagnosing sarcoidosis are available. These include blood tests, imaging studies such as X-rays and CT scans, and biopsy of affected tissues.

See also

• Sarcoidosis
• Granuloma
• Skin test