What is the difference between a TB Screening Assessment or a PPD skin test?
All students who attend the University of Virginia must be screened to asses the risk that you have acquired a tuberculosis infection. There are several screening assessment questions on the pre-entrance health form your health care provider must answer to assess this. Please make sure he/she has signed your form. Unsigned forms will not be accepted. A history of BCG immunization does not fulfill this requirement. Only students who are at risk (close contacts to persons with TB; persons with symptoms of TB such as cough, night sweats, and noticeable, non-planned weight loss; foreign born in a high TB prevalent country, health care professions students or students who would volunteer in a nursing home or prison.) will be required to have a PPD placed. A PPD skin test is the standard method of physically screening for tuberculosis with the purified antigen from the TB bacterium. A small amount of this liquid is injected just under the skin so that a “bubble” appears. If you are considere
