What are the tests for TB infection?
The TB skin test The TB skin test may be used to find out if you are infected with TB bacteria. You can get a skin test at the health department or at your doctor’s office. A health care worker will inject a small amount of testing fluid (called tuberculin or PPD) just under the skin on the lower part of your arm. After 2 or 3 days, you must return to have your skin test read by the health care worker. You may have a swelling where the tuberculin was injected. The health care worker will measure this swelling and tell you if your reaction to the test is positive or negative. A positive reaction usually means that you have been infected by someone with active TB disease. If you have recently been infected with TB bacteria, your TB skin test reaction may not be positive yet. You may need a second skin test 8 to 10 weeks after the last time you spent time with the person with active TB disease. This is because it can take several weeks after infection for your immune system to react to th
The TB skin test The TB skin test may be used to find out if you are infected with TB bacteria. You can get a skin test at the health department or at your doctor’s office. A health care worker will inject a small amount of testing fluid (called tuberculin or PPD) just under the skin on the lower part of your arm. After 2 or 3 days, you must return to have your skin test read by the health care worker. You may have a swelling where the tuberculin was injected. The health care worker will measure this swelling and tell you if your reaction to the test is positive or negative. A positive reaction usually means that you have been infected by someone with active TB disease. If you have recently been infected with TB bacteria, your TB skin test reaction may not be positive yet. You may need a second skin test 8 to 10 weeks after the last time you spent time with the person with active TB disease. This is because it can take several weeks after infection for your immune system to react to th
