Final answer:
The tuberculin or Mantoux test is an in vivo test that assesses cellular immune response to tuberculin proteins, not a serological test that screens for antibodies or antigens in the blood. The correct answer is b) No.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tuberculin test, also known as the Mantoux test, is indeed an example of an in vivo test, but it is not considered a serological test. Serological tests usually involve testing a serum for the presence of antibodies or antigens. Therefore, the correct final answer to whether tuberculin testing is an example of an in vivo serological test is: b) No.
The tuberculin test involves injecting tuberculin proteins from M. tuberculosis into the skin and checking for a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, typically an induration, which indicates exposure to the bacteria and a cellular immune response. In contrast, serological tests would look for antibodies in a blood sample. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test can also result in false positives due to prior vaccination with the BCG vaccine, hence, other confirmatory tests like chest radiographs may be required to confirm TB exposure.