What does a positive PPD or TB skin test mean?
A positive skin test result indicates that you have been infected by the TB bacteria sometime in the past. This does not necessarily mean that you now have active TB or are infectious to others. If you have a positive skin test or other signs of TB, your doctor will likely request a chest X-ray, sputum (phlegm) samples and other tests, depending on your symptoms and signs. The PPD skin test may not be reliable in people with advanced HIV disease because their immune systems may be too weak to respond to the TB bacteria. How is TB treated? Latent TB infection is usually treated with the drug isoniazid (INH) and vitamin B6 for several months. This will prevent latent TB from developing into active TB. A shorter course of combination therapy is sometimes recommended as an alternative. Active TB infection requires treatment with a combination of several antibiotics for at least six months. The drugs must be taken every day to cure the infection. Missing doses or taking the medications for
