Choice of skin slit smears for study of bacterial and morphological indices

Skin slit smears of 46 patients of lepromatous leprosy (16 untreated, 30 long treated) were studied from ear lobules, fingers, elbows and knees. In untreated patients ear lobules gave highest BI, as compared to other sites. MI from ear lobules was higher than elbows and knees but slightly lower than that from fingers. In treated patients sites other than ear lobules yielded solid staining bacilli more frequently. Multiple sites and especially peripheral sites are recommended for study of skin slit smears to discover persistent bacilli.