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TB Skin
Testing
General
Information
TB Skin Test
Questions and Answers
This section answers general
questions about the TB skin test and provides information on skin testing
interpretation. For specific information about school-related testing
requirements for students and school personnel please refer to School
TB Skin Testing Requirements.
If you have questions about non-school employee testing issues, see Employee
Skin Testing for Non-School Settings. You can receive a TB test within Los Angeles County by
viewing this page, Public
Health Community Health Centers - TB Skin Testing Locations. To
assist you, TB Control has provided the following answers to the most
frequently asked questions about the TB skin test:
|
GENERAL QUESTIONS |
ANSWERS |
|
What is a TB skin test? |
A "TB Skin Test" is a test to see if TB germs are
present in the body. L.A. County uses the Mantoux method only for
testing. |
|
Why would someone need a skin test? |
A skin test is used to see if a person has been exposed and
infected by M. tuberculosis or tubercle bacilli. A test may
also be required by an employer as an employment screening or to
enter school. |
|
What does a positive TB skin test result mean? |
A positive skin test means that a person has been exposed
to TB germs sometime during his life. It does not indicate that a
person has TB disease or is contagious. |
|
What should a person do if positive? |
A person with a positive reaction requires further
evaluation. This person should be referred to a healthcare provider
to have a chest x-ray or other clinical exams if indicated. |
|
When should a TB test be examined? (read or checked) |
The skin test should be examined (or read) 48-72 hours
after it is administered. It is acceptable to read the skin
test up to 96 hours after administration if it is not possible to do
it earlier. After 96 hours, a skin test of less than 10 mm of
induration should be repeated. A skin test of 10 mm or more is
positive at any time. |
|
Should a person who had a BCG vaccination get a TB
skin test? |
Yes. Not all BCG vaccinations are effective. A history
of BCG vaccination does not exempt students or employees from the skin
test. |
|
What is latent TB infection? |
A person with a positive skin test and normal X-ray has
latent TB infection. This is NOT contagious. |
|
When is TB contagious?
|
TB can be contagious in adolescents and adults, who are coughing, have a positive skin test, and an abnormal chest X-ray. TB medications will make the person non-contagious very quickly. Because of the efficacy of TB medicines, patients are not quarantined and are usually able to return to school or work within several weeks. |
|
Are children with active TB contagious? |
Children under the age of 12 rarely have contagious TB.
This is because they have TB in a different area in the body and do not
aerosolize or cough up their germs into the air. It is for this reason
that the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services has been
instructed to check the immunization record on these children as being free
of communicable TB on the day that the X-ray is taken. |
|
Where can I obtain a skin test? |
Your healthcare provider should be able to provide this
test or you can contact your nearest Public
Health Community Health Center |
|
|
|
Remember:
People who have a positive TB skin test with a normal chest x-ray are
NOT contagious, but may need medicine to prevent them from developing active
TB. Children under the age of 12 with active TB are rarely contagious, and
generally do not need to be kept out of school.
If you have any questions please call the Nurse Consultation Unit at the Los Angeles County Department of Health, Tuberculosis Control, (213) 744-6151.
| Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health Tuberculosis Control Program 2615 S. Grand Avenue, Room 507 Los Angeles, CA 90007 Tel: (213) 744-6160 Fax: (213) 749-0926 tb@ph.lacounty.gov |
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