The tuberculin tine test (TTT) and the standard purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD; 5 tuberculin units [TU]) were compared on 1,242 healthy prisoners. The single 72-hour reading yielded the best TTT sensitivity and specificity, with an intertest disagreement of 3.8%. When the test results were grouped as negative, weak positive, and strong positive, there was about 10% intertest disagreement, unaffected by race or tuberculosis exposure. Respective TTT and PPD limits of 3 to 4 mm and 6 mm permitted as good interest agreement as the usual limits of 2 mm and 5 mm. Eighty-nine percent of all false positive TTT responses were weak positive. Of the false negative TTT responses, none were associated with strong positive PPD responses. The incidence of weak positive TTT or PPD responses (11% to 13%) showed no relationship to race or tuberculosis exposure. The TTT was as sensitive but less specific than the PPD.