[Prevalence and costs of tuberculin screening performed at Altopiano di Asiago (Vicenza) during a decade]

We determined the results of Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) screening on pediatric population in the Asiago District, Italy, by means of Tine-test. During the period 1986-1995, all schoolchildren born between 1976 and 1988 were Tine-tested at least once. Furthermore all children, 6 months-14 years, hospitalized in the local General Hospital during the same period, 1986-1995, received one Mantoux-test; only the immunologically depressed ones and those who had undergone a Tine-test in the previous 6 months were excluded. A total of 5436 Tine-tests over 3220 schoolchildren were carried out; 1244 children were tested by Mantoux-test during hospitalization; 414 children underwent both of them by chance. 34 schoolchildren (1.07%) were Tine-test positive; only 3 out of them proved to be positive at the following Mantoux-test and therapy was carried out. 5 children out of 1244 proved to be Mantoux-positive during hospitalization; among them only 2 cases of tuberculosis were identified, less than 0,5% of all screned children. Tine-test identified 3 Mantoux-positive children; each of them costed about 9,850 US. It is a moot question if resources should then be directed only towards screening children at high risk of tuberculosis infection.