Leukocyte migration inhibition in farmer's lung

The leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) was studied in 20 patients with farmer's lung (FL) and in 24 asymptomatic farmers. In the first group, the test proved to be 95% positive (19/20), whereas it was positive in only 44% (11/25) of the control group; this difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.005). The LMIT was also studied in eight patients with FL who had not been in contact with the antigen during the year prior to testing and was found to be 87% positive (7/8). The test therefore proved to be more effective in the diagnosis of FL compared with tests for specific antibodies, even when subjects had not been in contact with the antigen for 1 yr.