[Where is the diagnosis of anthrax?]

The large use of antibiotics entailed a dizzy fall of the bacteriological positivity in diagnosis of acute anthrax, from 98-100% to 25% in average. Common serological methods are of low sensitivity and not so confluent. The more sophisticated methods (ELISA, EITB) are of a much better sensitivity but their employment in field epidemiological investigations is difficult and does not be suitable for a retrospective diagnosis. These inconveniences can be successfully surmounted by use of the anthraxin skin test. This test allows to diagnose acute anthrax in 98-100% of cases, and retrospectively (from 45 days to 30 years after recovery) in an average of 86.2% of cases. This skin test is simple for use, and does not requires a special medical competence.