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The nurse is preparing to perform a Mantoux tuberculin skin test. Which interventions apply to the administration of this test? Select all that apply.

  • A. Explain the procedure to the client.
  • B. Obtain a 3-mL syringe with a 1/2-inch needle for the injection.
  • C. Mark the test area to locate it for reading 48 to 72 hours after injection.
  • D. Bunch up the skin and insert the needle with the needle bevel facing downward.
  • E. Cleanse the injection site on the lower dorsal surface of the forearm with alcohol and allow it to dry.
  • F. Ask the client about a history of receiving a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) reaction.
Correct Answer: A,C,E,F

Rationale: The nurse should always explain the procedure to the client and then assess him or her for a history of a PPD reaction. The test should not be administered if the client has such a history. The nurse should use a tuberculin syringe (not a 3-mL syringe) with a 1/2-inch 26- or 27-gauge needle. The injection site on the lower dorsal surface of the forearm is cleansed with alcohol and allowed to dry. The skin is stretched taut, and 0.1 mL of solution containing 0.5 tuberculin units of PPD is injected. The injection is made just under the surface of the skin with the needle bevel facing upward to provide a discrete elevation of the skin (a wheal) 6 to 10 mm in diameter. The test area is marked to locate it for reading and the test area is read 48 to 72 hours after injection.