Transfer Factor and Cellular Immune Deficiency Disease

Abstract

SKIN tests performed with microbial antigens for the detection of delayed hypersensitivity have long been used in diagnostic medicine and are increasingly being applied to the investigation of disease. The diagnostic usefulness of this determination has resulted largely from two important characteristics of the host's response: a positive reaction is immunologically specific in that prior infection with the related microbe is an obligatory requirement; and a skin test performed with soluble microbial products does not usually by itself confer delayed cutaneous sensitivity on the negative subject. Hence, the tests are of value in detecting conversion to positive reactivity and thereby . . .