Nasal scrapings - leprosy

Nasal scrapings are used to assess treatment response in patients with lepromatous, or near lepromatous leprosy. A curette is used to scrape the posterior nasal septum. The curette is inserted 4 to 6 cm. The scrapings are then spread on a glass slide, fixed, and assessed for acid-fast bacilli.

As nasal scrapings become negative earlier with treatment, slit smears are the preferred monitoring test.

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