Did you see a positive PPD result?

[estrogen]

What does it REALLY look like? How often do you see a reaction but decide that it is not positive? What exactly do you go by? Also after years of having the PPD test done over and over, do you see a more severe reaction?

It's just that it seems to be getting worse every time I have it done, yet it's allways read as negative.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

So is the positive a really HARD lump that is so obvious you couldn't miss it? My fist one of the last two step PPD gave me a red area of about the size of a penny. The second step however was a red area at least the size of a quarter and only I can always palpate a small spot (probably less than 10 mm or just around 10 mm) that is so soft and hard to distinquish, with no precise boarders that it probably would be impossible to measure and no nurse ever assessing the result has recognized it. The skin is not raised and you cannot "see" the swelling. Only I can, when I sort of "dink around" (for the lack of a better word), ya know... So would the swelling of a positive be obvious at first sight and really hard with clearly distinguishable boarders?

Here is a fairly good pic of positive TB test:

[lovinghands]

The lump (induration) of a positive test is obvious when felt. We were taught to measure bytaking a pen and drawing a line towards the site until meeting the bump on 4 sides then taking the longest measurement. This past year I had redness the first day after my PPD but then it resolved - freaked me out and I kept feeling for a lump also. If there is any uncertainty we repeat the test. We don't re-test positive reactors though.

[JAHJF]

I would check with your local health dept. The redness is nothing but an induration (lump) should have been measured and you should have been referred to the health dept. They will probally re-test you. It is very important that the nurse read your test in the 48-72 hour window. If you don't show up in time for it to be read they need to give the test again. I would not be overly concerned. You haven't mentions s/s of Tb such as unexplained weight loss, night sweats, cough, or coughing up blood. If you do test positive you will probably receive a chest x-ray. I give 300 plus tests a year and seldom have a positive reactor. None have had the s/s. Those employees or pts do not get the test but we fill out a s/s form every year.

I did not start this thread, I was only offering my experience to the person who did b/c they sound concerned about their own test. My swelling was during the 1st 24hrs and like I stated, when I had it read at 48hrs the swelling was gone and the test was read as negative. I have no concern that I may have TB but thanks for the advice/concern for me. :)

[missnurse01, MSN, RN]

hi everyone! after 8 years of being a nurse i was sooo shocked when my boyfriend's ppd came up pos after returning from iraq. apparently it is pretty widespread there, but he-nor anyone else that we spoke to-did not know that. lots of soldiers come home being exposed. there was no precautions about getting face to face with the people there, or worrying about airborne type infections. thankfully, his cxr was clear...although he did have some minor s/s which could just have been from changing climates, who knows? took the 9-10 months of inh...so he is happy that he can have a beer now!!!:rotfl:

[BamaRN]

I have had around 10 PPD tests and every time I get one the site looks worse than the one before. I think I may have reactions to the stuff they inject. Last one I too had a red bump about as big as a dime and it hurt. This took like 2 weeks to clear up completly. I also had a knot at the site. I think the OH nurse went to far in and went into the muscle as I also had bruise there.

[missnurse01, MSN, RN]

hi guys, i too have more and more 'redness' each time i get this test. infection control nurse says that over the years many health care workers start having allergic rxns to the stuff they put the ppd in, hence the increasing redness.

[Bird2]

I did not start this thread, I was only offering my experience to the person who did b/c they sound concerned about their own test. My swelling was during the 1st 24hrs and like I stated, when I had it read at 48hrs the swelling was gone and the test was read as negative. I have no concern that I may have TB but thanks for the advice/concern for me. :)

Oops, I thought I was replying to thhe OP. Thanks for letiing me know nicely. Have a great Saturday.