Florence B. Seibert

Florence B. Seibert (October 6, 1897 – August 23, 1991) was an American biochemist known for her work in isolating the active agent in the antigen tuberculin as a protein, and subsequently producing a reliable test for tuberculosis.

Early Life and Education

Florence Barbara Seibert was born on October 6, 1897, in Easton, Pennsylvania. She was the second of three children of George Peter Seibert, a rug manufacturer, and Barbara (Memmert) Seibert. At the age of three, she contracted polio. She had to wear leg braces and walked with a limp throughout her life. Despite her physical limitations, she excelled academically.

Seibert did her undergraduate work at Goucher College in Baltimore, graduating in 1918. She earned her Ph.D. from Yale University in 1923. Seibert did postdoctoral work at the University of Chicago and was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1932 for her studies on the biochemistry of tuberculosis.

Career

Seibert is best known for her work on the purification of protein derivatives, particularly the active agent in the antigen tuberculin, which is used in the tuberculin skin test. Prior to her work, tuberculin tests were unreliable as they could give false positive results due to impurities in the test material. Seibert identified the active agent in tuberculin as a protein, and she developed a method to purify it, eliminating false positives.

In 1938, Seibert was appointed an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. She retired in 1959 but continued her research and advocacy work.

Legacy

Seibert's purified protein derivative (PPD) is still used worldwide as the standard in tuberculin tests. Her work has had a significant impact on the global fight against tuberculosis.

Awards and Honors

Seibert received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1942, she received the Garvan–Olin Medal, an award for distinguished service to chemistry by women chemists. In 1990, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Death

Seibert died on August 23, 1991, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

See Also

• List of biochemists
• Women in science

References

Florence B. Seibert Resources
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