TB Skin Testing

TB Skin Testing (Mantoux Method) is available. It includes interpretation of the test within 72 hours and documentation of the results.

Quantiferon TB blood test: Quantiferon TB blood test is done for those who have a history of false positive TB skin test. TB blood test is useful in detecting latent TB (persons who carry TB but don’t have active disease) Test must be done in one of our offices due to special collection guidelines.

What Causes TB?

TB is caused by bacteria that usually infect the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body, too such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine.

What are the symptoms of TB?

• Fever
• Night Sweats
• Fatigue
• Weight Loss
• Persistent cough
• Coughing up blood

What is the difference between TB infection and TB disease?

People with TB infection test positive on their skin test for TB but they are not sick, and they cannot spread the disease to anyone else. Only people sick with TB disease can spread it to others.

Who gets TB?

Anyone at any age can get TB, but some people are at a higher risk. These include:

• People who have been around people with TB disease
• Homeless
• People from countries where there is a lot of TB
• Nursing home residents
• Inmates at correctional facilities
• Alcoholics and IV drug users
• People with medical conditions (such as diabetes, and some cancers) that weaken their ability to fight infection
• People with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).
• Daycare workers

All people at risk for TB should be tested. The test is available through doctors and local health departments.

How is tuberculosis (TB) spread?

TB is spread in the air. TB gets in the air when a person who has TB disease coughs, sneezes or speaks. Anyone who is around a person with TB disease can become infected, but usually it takes days of close contact. You cannot get TB by touching things like furniture, dishes, stair railings, etc., that have been handled by someone with TB disease.