A false negative can occur if you are unwell, have a weak immune system, or have had a recent live vaccination. If the lump is above a certain size, the result of the test is positive. It means that you may have been infected with the TB bacteria.
It does not mean you have TB disease active TB. When you are infected with TB bacteria you are not infectious and you cannot pass the bacteria onto other people. You are not sick but, at some stage in the future, you may develop TB disease. If you are told your TST is positive you may be asked to see a doctor for review. You will be given your result when you have the reading done.
If the result is negative, you may be advised that no further follow up is required. You may be recommended to have a repeat test in the future depending on why the test was initially performed.
If the result is positive, you will require a chest X-ray and review by a medical officer. Some people with a latent TB will be offered medication to prevent them developing active TB. If your test is positive you may be advised not to have the test repeated.
The TST is a simple and safe test and side effects are uncommon. The side effects are mainly related to the size of the reaction and include swelling, redness and itchiness that may take a few weeks to clear. Very strong reactions are uncommon but may result in a painful swelling of several centimetres in size, blistering or ulceration.
This will heal with almost no scarring. The effects of the TST are localised to the site and more general reactions are extremely rare. This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care.
Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. It is important for the person with active TB to follow the directions of the TB nurses regarding the use of masks and isolation from the general public to prevent the spread of TB until such time it is proven that the medicine has worked to make them noninfectious.
If a latent dormant TB Infection is indicated by a normal chest x-ray, treatment is voluntary and usually involves taking 2 pills an antibiotic and a vitamin for 9 months. Once started, the series needs to be completed to prevent the formation of antibiotic-resistant TB.
It is important to note, that tuberculosis treatment requires a commitment of time and a determination to complete the drug series. The full treatment of TB infection will kill the dormant germs and prevent the development of active TB later in life.
The medicines used to treat TB are strong and can sometimes affect the liver of those taking TB therapy especially if they are over the age of 35 or have a history of alcohol abuse. How does the Health Department handle treatment for active TB cases? This procedure allows the nurse an opportunity to make sure that the pills are not adversely affecting you.
What happens following treatment? Please know that once you have had a positive TB skin test you will always have a positive test whether you proceed with the treatment or not. If, in the future, you have symptoms of TB, you will need a chest x-ray to rule out an active TB disease.
On completion of therapy you will receive a letter explaining this, which you can use to show to future employers, schools, etc. To learn more about tuberculosis, please call us at or click here to visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website. Adair County Health Department.
Contact Us Volunteer Donate Forms. TB testing can be done on Mondays and Wednesdays ONLY from am to pm After the initial testing, you must return to the clinic to have the test site examined. You may have a positive test for TB but no signs that the germ is awake.
You cannot spread "sleeping" TB to others. If you take TB medications, there is less chance the germs will wake up. Active awake TB germs cause disease in the lungs or other parts of the body and you feel very sick. You could give TB to others by coughing, sneezing or shouting and transferring the germs in the air that others breathe in. You can take medication to stay healthy. TB can be cured! But if you do not take the medication, TB can make you feel very sick.
Even if you feel better after you begin taking the medication, do not stop taking the pills until your doctor or nurse tells you to stop. If you stop taking the medication too soon, the TB germ can come back and be very hard to fight off. People with active TB work very closely with health care providers to make sure they get the right treatment and feel better. The TB skin test is when a small amount of fluid is injected just under the skin on your forearm. It makes a small bubble disappears in about minutes.
It is very important to go back to your doctor or nurse in days hours after the injection so they can look at your arm and determine if it is a positive or negative skin test. If it is not read in this time frame, the test will need to be repeated. In most cases, if there is no bump where the testing fluid was placed, you probably are not infected with TB. A doctor or nurse must look at the area to be sure.
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