Abstract: In order to detect leprosy patients early, 192 residents and 106 leprosy household contacts with positive anti-ND-BSA antibodies in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province were followed up with lepromin test and serologic test, for 2 years. The results showed that 1 and 3 multibacillary cases were detected in residents and leprosy household contacts with negative lepromin test and positive anti-ND-BSA antibody, respectively. The results suggested that both lepromin test negativity and antibody persistent positivity were high risk factors in developing clinical disease. The authors consider that the combination of these two tests may be useful to identify high risk group of leprosy in high-endemic villages of leprosy for the early detection of patients with leprosy. But it is not recommended as a routine measure to be used in a low endemic region due to its high cost and low effectiveness.

Key words: Leprosy, Serologic test, Lepromin test