Skin snip examinations to detect Mf
CREST
Four skin snips were collected (one from each posterior iliac crest and posterior calf) with a Holth corneoscleral punch (Everhards, Meckenheim, Germany). Snips were weighed and incubated in 100 μl of isotonic saline in individual wells of a flat-bottomed microtiter plate at ambient temperature for at least 8 hours. Snips in the microtiter wells were then examined with an inverted microscope, and Mf were counted by experienced microscopists. Mean values for Mf/mg for four snips were calculated. Persons who performed skin snips or counted Mf by microscopy were masked with respect to participant treatments.