In multibacillary leprosy, slit-skin smears for bacteriological index are conventionally taken from all of the following sites EXCEPT the:

• A Earlobes
• B Palmar surface of the fingertips ✓
• C Overlying the eyebrows
• D Active edge of a skin lesion

Explanation

Standard slit-skin smear sites are both earlobes, both eyebrows, and the active raised edges of representative lesions, giving six smears routinely. M. leprae preferentially colonises cool superficial sites rich in nerves, which explains the choice of earlobes and eyebrows. Fingertip pulp is not a conventional site and yields little tissue fluid for smearing. A negative smear does not exclude leprosy, since paucibacillary disease may show no bacilli at all.

Reference: IAL Textbook of Leprosy, 2nd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.