What substance is commonly screened for using an intradermal injection?

The substance commonly screened for using an intradermal injection is tuberculosis. The test used for this screening is known as the Mantoux test or tuberculin skin test (TST). In this procedure, a small amount of purified protein derivative (PPD) is injected into the dermis of the skin. This injection allows for the immune response to be assessed; if the individual has been exposed to the tuberculosis bacteria, an induration (a raised, hardened area) will typically appear at the injection site after 48 to 72 hours.

The test is specific for detecting latent tuberculosis infection rather than active disease, going directly to the body's immune response to the tuberculin protein. This method highlights the significance of the immune system's role in identifying exposure to the tuberculosis pathogen, making it a critical tool in public health for controlling the disease.

While options such as hepatitis B, influenza, and measles refer to important diseases, they are not typically diagnosed through intradermal injection. Hepatitis B is usually screened with blood tests, influenza is often diagnosed through nasopharyngeal swabs or rapid tests, and measles is generally identified through clinical symptoms and serological testing rather than through an intradermal method.