![]() ![]() Have a weakened immune system, due to certain medicines or disease (such as cancer or HIV/AIDS)Ī negative reaction usually means you have never been infected with the bacteria that cause TB.You are most likely to need this test if you: Most people in the United States who are infected with the bacteria do not have signs or symptoms of active TB. The bacteria can remain inactive (dormant) in the lungs for many years. TB is an easily spread (contagious) disease. This test is done to find out if you have ever come in contact with the bacteria that cause TB. You will feel a brief sting as the needle is inserted just below the skin surface. (This vaccine is only given outside of the United States). Tell your provider if you have received the BCG vaccine and if so, when you received it. These situations may lead to inaccurate test results. Tell your provider if you have a medical condition or if you take certain medicines, such as steroids, which can affect your immune system. If so, you should not have a repeat PPD test, except under unusual circumstances. Tell your provider if you have ever had a positive PPD skin test. There is no special preparation for this test. Your provider will check the area to see if you have had a strong reaction to the test. This bump usually goes away in a few hours as the material is absorbed.Īfter 48 to 72 hours, you must return to your provider's office (in some cases, this can be done virtually). The needle is gently placed under the top layer of skin, causing a bump (welt) to form. You will get a small shot (injection) that contains PPD. These tests can take one to two months before results are available.You will need two visits to your health care provider's office for this test.Īt the first visit, the provider will clean an area of your skin, usually the inside of your forearm. They may also check your sputum (coughed-up mucus) for bacteria, to see whether you have clinically active TB disease and if so, which strain of TB you have. If the skin or blood tests indicate the need for further analysis, your doctor may order a chest X-ray or CT scan to look for visible signs of TB in your lungs. This information will be used to more precisely confirm or rule out latent or active TB. The TB blood test measures how your immune system reacts to the germs that cause TB. The skin test isn’t 100% accurate, meaning you may have a false-positive or a false-negative, so your doctor may order further testing regardless of the result. ![]() It does not tell whether you have developed clinically active TB disease. If it's positive, it usually means you have been infected with the TB germ. The healthcare worker will measure the bump or induration and tell you if your reaction to the test is positive or negative. It may be difficult to feel so an experienced healthcare worker should examine the reaction. You will be told to return to the office within 48 to 72 hours to have a healthcare worker check the arm to see if a bump or an induration (thickening) of the skin has developed. The skin test is done by injecting a small amount of fluid called tuberculin into the skin in the arm. If your doctor suspects TB, they may order a skin or blood test. During a physical exam, they will use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs and check the lymph nodes in your neck for swelling. Your doctor will start by collecting a patient history to determine if you may have been exposed. If you think you have been exposed to TB, get a TB test. These symptoms can also occur with other diseases, so it is important to see a healthcare provider and to let them find out if you have TB. Bone pain may mean that the bacteria have invaded your bones. Coughing up blood or mucus (sputum) is a sign of in TB of the lungs. You may experience other symptoms related to the function of a specific organ or system that is affected. Loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss.A cough that lasts more than three weeks.You may still have a TB infection, but the bacteria in your body is not yet causing harm. A person with latent, or inactive, TB will have no symptoms. ![]()
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