Serial delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity skin testing with multiple recall antigens in healthy volunteers: booster effect study.

Booster effects on delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) responses have been demonstrated for various antigens when DCH is measured by the Mantoux technique. In the present study, we investigated this possibility when assessing DCH responses using the Multitest CMI multipuncture technique with simultaneous injections of seven test antigens and a control. The DCH responses were quantified for each antigen and for the overall DCH response expressed as a DCH score. In a group of healthy volunteers, DCH was repeatedly tested either 1 month apart or 2 months apart at least six times. When volunteers remained healthy, DCH variations were observed with only two of seven tested antigens: streptococcus which slowly decreased (P = .012) and proteus which slowly increased (P = .04). Responses to the other antigens and the DCH score remained stable. In contrast, greater DCH variations were observed when infections occurred. The results with the Multitest CMI multipuncture show that repeated application had minimal booster effect on DCH responses and may be used to evaluate and follow immunocompetence of patients.