The Frei test was developed in 1925 by
Wilhelm Siegmund Frei, a German dermatologist, to identify
lymphogranuloma venereum
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV; also known as climatic bubo, Durand–Nicolas–Favre disease, poradenitis inguinale, lymphogranuloma inguinale, and strumous bubo) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the invasive serovars L1, L2, L2a, L2 ...
. Antigen made from sterile
pus
Pus is an exudate, typically white-yellow, yellow, or yellow-brown, formed at the site of inflammation during bacterial or fungal infection. An accumulation of pus in an enclosed tissue space is known as an abscess, whereas a visible collection ...
aspirated from previously unruptured
abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body. Signs and symptoms of abscesses include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The swelling may feel fluid-filled when pressed. The area of redness often extends b ...
es, produced a reaction in patients with lymphogranuloma venereum when injected intradermally. Other sources of antigen have been explored, most deriving from various tissues of mice infected with
Chlamydia
Chlamydia, or more specifically a chlamydia infection, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Chlamydia trachomatis''. Most people who are infected have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear they may occur only several wee ...
. The test is no longer used but stands as a milestone in our understanding of immunology. A heat inactivated LGV 0.1ml grown in yolk sac of embryonated egg is injected intra dermally on the forearm and a control material prepared from noninfected yolk sac on the other forearm i.e. control. After 48–72 hours, an inflammatory nodule more than 6mm in diameter develops at the test site.
References
* W. Harris Connor, Edward A. Levin and E. E. Ecker. Observations on the Frei Test. ''The Journal of Infectious Diseases'', Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan. - Feb., 1937), pp. 62–63
* Maurice J. Strauss, Marion E. Howard. The Frei Test for Lymphogranuloma Inguinale: Experiences with Antigens Made from Mouse Brain. ''J Am Med Assoc.'' 1936;106(7):517-520.
*http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/1407.html
Skin tests
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