INTRA-TESTER AND INTER-TESTER RELIABILITY OF SENSIBILITY TESTING IN LEPROSY

We conducted an intra- and inter-tester agreement study of three senso ry screening tests used in nerve function assessment of leprosy patien ts: the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test, moving 2-point discr imination (M2PD), and the pin prick test. The weighted kappa (kappa(w) ) statistic was used as the reliability coefficient, The SWM had intra -observer kappa(w)s ranging from 0.83 to 0.92 and inter-observer kappa (w)s ranging from 0.76 to 0.89, The M2PD had intra- and inter-tester k appa(w)s ranging from 0.75 to 0.82 and 0.54 to 0.82, respectively, Int er-tester agreement for the pin prick test ranged from 0.45 to 0.85. T here was evidence that the main source of variability between testers was testing skill and experience, Among the experienced physiotechnici ans there was no significant difference between intra- and inter-teste r reliability. We conclude that reliability of the SWM test was very g ood, closely followed by the M2PD test. Reliability of the pin prick t est was less good than that of the SWM and M2PD, making it less suitab le for serial testing.