Product comparison / medical practice reference
Tubersol vs AplisolProduct Differences for Medical Practices
Tubersol and Aplisol are prescription products used for tuberculin skin testing. This comparison focuses on the product, package, storage, ordering and receiving details a medical practice should verify.
At a glance
What a medical practice should verify first
- Both products are labeled at 5 TU per 0.1 mL.
- Both have 1 mL/10-test and 5 mL/50-test presentations.
- Verify product identity, manufacturer, formulation details, package identifiers, and handling instructions.
- A product change is not automatically interchangeable; follow current labeling and the responsible practice protocol.
Prepared for Clint Pharmaceuticals · Product comparison / medical practice reference
Tubersol and Aplisol are prescription products used for tuberculin skin testing. Both contain tuberculin purified protein derivative, commonly called PPD, and both are labeled at 5 tuberculin units (TU) per 0.1 mL. Both come in 1 mL and 5 mL multidose vials, labeled for 10 and 50 tests.
The practical differences to check are the manufacturer, formulation details, package identifiers and current ordering options. Matching strength alone is insufficient to determine whether a product change is appropriate. For the person placing the order, the starting point is simple: match the requested brand, vial size and National Drug Code (NDC) to the product listing.
What is the same, and what differs?
| Product field | Tubersol | Aplisol |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled strength | 5 TU per 0.1 mL | 5 TU per 0.1 mL |
| Labeled vial sizes | 1 mL/10 tests; 5 mL/50 tests | 1 mL/10 tests; 5 mL/50 tests |
| Manufacturer | Sanofi Vaccines Canada Ltd.; distributed by Sanofi Vaccines US Inc. | Endo USA |
| Ingredients to recognize | Polysorbate 80 and phenol | Polysorbate 80 and phenol |
| Label-described phenol content | 0.22%–0.35% weight per volume | Approximately 0.25% |
| Storage temperature | 2–8°C | 2–8°C |
| Entered-vial instruction | Discard when entered and in use for 30 days | Discard vials in use more than 30 days |
| 10-test carton NDC | 49281-752-21 | 42023-104-01 |
| 50-test carton NDC | 49281-752-22 | 42023-104-05 |
The table summarizes product identification, not patient selection. The current Tubersol label and Aplisol label contain the complete prescribing information.
Read the NDC as well as the product name
The full package-level NDC identifies a specific product and package presentation. For Tubersol, the label distinguishes the carton identifiers used in Clint’s listings from the identifiers for the vials inside them. The 10-test carton uses NDC 49281-752-21, while its vial identifier is 49281-752-78. The 50-test carton uses NDC 49281-752-22, while its vial identifier is 49281-752-98.
That distinction is useful when comparing an invoice, catalog listing and physical package. A different package-level identifier does not, on its own, establish a different strength. Match the complete product and presentation against the label before drawing that conclusion. Aplisol’s listed package identifiers are 42023-104-01 for the 10-test presentation and 42023-104-05 for the 50-test presentation.
PRACTICE + SCIENCE / VISUAL REFERENCE
One presentation. Two identifiers.
contains →10-test carton · 49281-752-21Vial inside · 49281-752-78
These are testing products, not vaccines
Tubersol and Aplisol are diagnostic antigens. They do not vaccinate a patient against tuberculosis. A tuberculin skin test evaluates an immune response and is one part of an assessment for tuberculosis infection.
A skin-test result alone does not distinguish latent infection from active tuberculosis disease, and a negative result does not exclude tuberculosis disease. Clinical interpretation belongs with trained healthcare personnel using current CDC guidance.
Both products contain phenol and polysorbate 80
Tubersol is not phenol-free. Its label describes polysorbate 80 at 0.0006% and phenol at 0.22% to 0.35% weight per volume in sterile isotonic phosphate-buffered saline. Aplisol’s label describes polysorbate 80, potassium and sodium phosphate buffering, and approximately 0.25% phenol as a preservative.
These are label-described formulation details. They do not establish that either product is safer, more accurate or preferable for a particular patient. Ingredient concerns belong with the responsible clinician, using the full label and patient history.
Practice + science / visual reference
Recognize the shared ingredients.
An ingredient reference, not a molecular illustration. Shared ingredients do not establish identical formulations, clinical interchangeability or superiority.
How to compare 10-test and 50-test vials
The larger vial contains more labeled test doses, not a stronger concentration. Staff should keep three different fields separate: strength per test dose, total vial volume and labeled number of tests.
For inventory planning, compare expected use with the vial size, the expiration date and the manufacturer’s instructions after the vial is entered. Package size alone does not show which option costs less in practice. For a purchasing comparison, record quoted package price, labeled test count, remaining expiration period and any applicable shipping charge in the same worksheet. Treat a calculated price per labeled test as a purchasing estimate; it does not account for unused doses or completed testing.
Use the current price and your own utilization records to compare purchasing cost and unused inventory. Do not assume that every labeled dose will become a completed test, or that a larger vial necessarily saves money.
Read the package, not just the brand
5 TU per 0.1 mL — The labeled strength is the same. The total vial volume changes.
1 mL / 10 labeled tests · 5 mL / 50 labeled tests
Package-size reference for both products, based on their labels. This graphic does not establish clinical interchangeability.
Refrigeration and the in-use period
Both labels specify storage at 2–8°C, protection from light and no freezing. Tubersol’s label explicitly says to discard product exposed to freezing.
Tubersol’s label says a vial entered and in use for 30 days should be discarded. Aplisol’s label says to discard vials in use more than 30 days. Follow the exact product instructions and the practice’s procedures for identifying entered vials. The manufacturer’s expiration date and the entered-vial instructions are separate checks.
Before receiving a shipment, confirm appropriate refrigerated storage and receiving arrangements. If handling conditions are uncertain, consult the manufacturer and the practice’s established procedures. This comparison does not establish an acceptable temperature-excursion period or a storage period for product drawn into syringes.
Product changes need clinical review
During the 2019 Aplisol shortage, CDC identified Tubersol substitution as an option. The same advisory warned that changing PPD products or testing methods during serial testing could produce apparent changes from negative to positive, or positive to negative, that reflect differences between products or methods rather than a change in infection status.
That is historical shortage guidance, not evidence of a current shortage or a blanket substitution instruction. A proposed change should be reviewed by the clinician responsible for the testing program. The CDC advisory supplies the context and qualifications.
Accurate records support that review. Tubersol’s label calls for recording the product name, manufacturer, lot number, dose, date and measured result. Ordering and clinical teams can help preserve product identification when a supplier or presentation changes.
A practical ordering and receiving checklist
- The requested brand and labeled strength.
- The vial size and exact NDC.
- Expected use, remaining expiration period and the labeled in-use instructions.
- Current price, availability and shipping arrangements.
- Refrigerated receiving and storage capacity.
- Who must review a proposed product change under your practice’s protocol.
When the shipment arrives, compare the delivered product with the purchase order. Check the expiration date and follow the practice’s procedures for reviewing shipping conditions before accepting it into refrigerated inventory. Record discrepancies and resolve them through the supplier, manufacturer or appropriate practice contact. Keep unopened inventory and entered-vial records distinct so staff can identify which dates apply. These are workflow suggestions; the label and practice protocol control handling decisions.
Summary of the article’s ordering and receiving checklist. Product labeling and the practice’s protocol control handling decisions.
Compare product options at Clint Pharmaceuticals
Visit Clint’s Tuberculin Tests section to compare the listed presentations, or open the specific product your practice has requested:
- Tubersol 1 mL/10-test vial — CP-752-21
- Tubersol 5 mL/50-test vial — CP-752-22
- Aplisol 1 mL/10-test vial — CP-07-0010401
- Aplisol 5 mL/50-test vial — CP-07-0010405
Review the product details, then sign in for ordering access. Confirm current pricing and availability before placing an order. A catalog listing does not guarantee immediate availability.
Frequently asked questions
Are Tubersol and Aplisol interchangeable?
Both have the same labeled strength, but that alone does not determine whether a product change is appropriate. CDC’s historical shortage advisory discussed substitution and warned about apparent result changes during serial testing. A practice should have the responsible clinician review a proposed change under its testing protocol. See the Tubersol label and Aplisol label.
Is the 50-test vial stronger than the 10-test vial?
No. For both brands, the labeled strength is 5 TU per 0.1 mL. The presentations differ in total vial volume and labeled number of tests: 1 mL/10 tests or 5 mL/50 tests. Choose the requested package using its exact identifier, rather than interpreting “50 tests” as a concentration. See the Tubersol label and Aplisol label.
Does either product avoid phenol?
No. Both labels list phenol and polysorbate 80. The formulation details appear in the comparison table above. Review the complete Tubersol label and Aplisol label for ingredient questions, including precautions and contraindications.
Sources checked September 30, 2026. Tubersol product information: April 2026; DailyMed update: May 1, 2026. Aplisol revision: May 2024; DailyMed update: August 20, 2024. This source check is not a claim of physician review.
