Schick test is done for?

KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

The Schick test is an in-vivo skin test specifically designed to determine a person's susceptibility to Diphtheria.
It involves the intradermal injection of a minute amount of diphtheria toxin.
A positive reaction (redness and swelling) at the injection site indicates that the individual lacks sufficient circulating antibodies (antitoxin) to neutralize the toxin and is therefore susceptible to the disease.
A negative reaction signifies immunity.

Option A: Meningitis diagnosis relies on analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained via lumbar puncture to check for inflammatory cells, protein, glucose levels, and to identify the causative organism through culture or PCR.
Option C: Pertussis (whooping cough) is diagnosed by detecting the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The gold standard is a nasopharyngeal swab for culture or PCR testing.
Option D: Poliomyelitis is diagnosed by isolating the poliovirus from a stool sample. Serological tests to detect a rise in antibody titers can also be used.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Indication and principle of the Schick test as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While the Schick test is now largely of historical interest due to the success of routine childhood immunization (DPT/DTaP vaccines), it illustrates the fundamental immunological principle of in-vivo toxin neutralization.
Understanding such historical tests provides context for the evolution of modern diagnostics and the impact of public health vaccination programs.
What if? If a patient from a community with low vaccination coverage presents with a sore throat, low-grade fever, and a suspicious greyish membrane (pseudomembrane) in the throat, the priority is not the Schick test. The immediate nursing actions would be to ensure droplet precautions, prepare for the administration of diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics based on clinical suspicion, and notify public health authorities. The Schick test assesses susceptibility, it does not diagnose an acute infection.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of specific diagnostic tests.
Identify the core term in the question: 'Schick test'.
Scan your memory for the disease associated with this specific eponym test.
Recall that the Schick test is classically linked to determining susceptibility to Diphtheria.
Confirm your answer by mentally eliminating the other options, recalling their primary diagnostic methods (e.g., Meningitis -> CSF analysis; Pertussis -> Nasopharyngeal swab; Polio -> Stool sample).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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