A possitive tb test

[libra32]

hi

i have pre-emplyment test .i have done blood test inwhich tb test is positive.the nurse told me to test again . after that she will do x-ray . i never have tb before . i am very worried about that are they gonna give the job or not if i have positive x-ray .

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

...I don't know why I told them to go ahead with the 2 step knowing that I had the inactive TB, but the results were confusing. I saw the induration myself at the start of all this years ago and it looked like a picture textbook example of an induration. Now, after 8 years I do a 2 step and it comes out clear! Hmmmm; still going to get the yearly chest x-rays. :)

The most likely reason for the negatives on your most recent PPD is poor technique on planting the antigen. While it's true "any nurse can do one, any nurse can read one", it has most definitely been my experience that MANY nurses do not do them correctly, and many do not read them correctly either.

If there was no induration/erythema present on your recent PPD (and you were positive years ago), it may have been placed too deeply under the skin (and resulted in a false negative).

The other thing is that over time, people who have had positive PPDs/TB+ will find that they DON'T have the same very clear skin test reaction that they did years ago. In time, it absolutely CAN diminish in result....from little to no redness to little to no induration. Assuming, of course, it is placed correctly, as mentioned above.

But while the skin test reaction can become less sensitive, the TB status does not change (once there, always there, inactive or active...always going to be positive on Quantiferon).

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Hi

mo am worried about my job can I work or not if my chest X-ray-Ray negative .

Please read the information that has been posted here for you, and read it carefully.

If you have a negative chest xray, that means there are no nodules, no signs of active disease...in other words, no barrier to initial employment. Your new employer will probably, though, require you to have screenings at regular intervals (they will determine that) to ensure that you stay monitored. This policy and practice varies widely, though, from 'required' to 'suggested'. It is in your best interest to follow current medical recommendations on how you should proceed with this in the future.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Of course you can work with latent TB.

The other with "perhaps the 2 step was done inaccurately" (paraphrasing in the quote): I watched the RN administer the test because it's very true, many RNs don't have a clue on how to properly administer the test. In my case the same nurse did it twice (hence the name 2 step). Requested the same nurse to do the second half due to the negative results in the initial test. Clear, clear, clear. I now realize the initial test that was positive I didn't bother watching it as I was gabbing with another RN.

I recently went to the health department and got a regular 1 step...that's right; it was clear. I explained the history of my tb testing and they said it was the initial that was misdiagnosed. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. I was a young nurse at that time and just went along with my colleagues interpretation.

So, miracle; most likely not but I saw the initial results and I've monitored every test I've concluded that the initial test was in fact done wrong. I'm going to the health department to get a sputum smear done; if it comes out negative we will definitely know.

[sourapril]

Just get treated, usually 3-6 months. Then you never ever have to have another TB test in your life :) Employer will keep you as long as you are undergoing treatment.