The clinic nurse administers a tuberculin skin test to a client. The nurse tells the client to return to the clinic for the results in?

A. 2–3 days: This is the correct time frame for interpreting a tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test). The induration response should be evaluated 48 to 72 hours after administration to ensure accurate results. Reading the test outside this window may lead to false negatives or unreliable interpretation. B. 24 hours: Reading the skin test after only 24 hours may not allow sufficient time for the delayed hypersensitivity reaction to develop. The immune response that causes induration typically peaks at 48–72 hours. C. 1 week: Waiting a full week exceeds the ideal time frame for interpretation. By this point, the reaction may have subsided, leading to an inaccurate or unreadable result. Follow-up must occur within 2–3 days. D. 1 month: A return after one month is far too late to interpret the results. The test site would have long since returned to baseline, making accurate evaluation impossible and necessitating repeat testing.