A patient has a 16 mm induration following an intradermal injection that was placed 2 days prior. Which of the following interpretations should the medical assistant document?

Rationale

Positive reaction

An induration of 16 mm following an intradermal injection after 2 days indicates a positive reaction. This size of induration suggests a significant immune response, typically associated with a positive test for conditions like tuberculosis.

A (Doubtful result) YOUR ANSWER

A doubtful result typically refers to an induration size that is borderline or inconclusive, often necessitating retesting or further evaluation. In this case, a 16 mm induration is considered definitive and exceeds the threshold for a positive reaction, thus making this option incorrect.

B (Positive reaction) CORRECT

A 16 mm induration is indicative of a positive reaction to the intradermal injection. In many testing protocols, such as those for tuberculosis screening, this size of induration is well above the cut-off for a positive test, confirming an immune response to the antigen introduced.

C (Negative reaction) YOUR ANSWER

A negative reaction would be indicated by an induration smaller than the threshold value, typically less than 5 mm for certain tests. Since the induration measured 16 mm, it clearly indicates an immune response, thus invalidating this choice.

D (Invalid result) YOUR ANSWER

An invalid result usually applies to tests that cannot be properly interpreted due to issues such as improper technique or timing. In this instance, the induration is measurable and interpretable, making this option irrelevant.

Conclusion

The interpretation of a 16 mm induration after an intradermal injection should be documented as a positive reaction. This finding indicates a significant immune response, which is crucial for diagnosing conditions like tuberculosis. The other choices do not apply, as they either misinterpret the size of the induration or suggest testing issues that are not present.

A patient has a 16 mm induration following an intradermal injection that was placed 2 days prior. Which of the following interpretations should the medical assistant document?

Positive reaction

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