Summary of questionnaires on slit skin smear test in clinics, hospitals and university hospitals

We have performed a questionnaire to survey the present conditions of the slit skin smear test, a method to diagnose leprosy. The answer was obtained from 40 (93. 0%) out of 43 clinics, department of dermatology of university and other hospitals and leprosy sanatoriums. Slit skin smear test was carried out in most institutions. However, when inspection frequency was low, a laboratory technician performed Ziehl-Neelsen staining or its variation using a normal slide glass. A few institutions carried out fluorescence staining. Both physician and technician examined the slides in most cases, however, in more than half of the leprosy sanatoriums, technician was the only person examined. Bacterial index was evaluated in most institutions, while only for the presence of bacteria was examined 5 institutions. Slit skin smear test is simple and easy, but accuracy is different with skills, glass slides to be used and methods for staining and inspection. Supply of the glass slide with a marker, the spread of staining methods, technical improvement of an inspection are demanded in future.