TB skin test...a reaction??

Nurses New Nurse

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On Tuesday I went down to employee health services to get a physical for my new job (I am a recent grad) and got the regular work up. I did a drug screen, tb test, blood draw for titers.

I went back on Thursday to get my tb test read. The NP marked it a positive. I have a red blotch on my arm from the test and absolutely no induration. She sat there with her eyes closed, used her other hand and said no induration, but I don't like this. Then proceeded to talk to me about getting in contact with the health dept, omg!

Now this blotch on my arm is bruised in it and I can see the needle insertion site. Is this normal? My previous tb tests never caused any problems. I am getting a bit nervous here. I am scheduled to go back on Tuesday for another test. Any thoughts?

Also my drug test results have yet to come back. I am drug free, what is the hold up there? She asked if I was sure I had not taken any drugs.

I guess it was just not my day...

My drug test came back. Negative. Not sure what the hold up was. I go in tomorrow for my tb retest. blah...

1 Votes
LindseyLou2222 said:
On Tuesday I went down to employee health services to get a physical for my new job (I am a recent grad) and got the regular work up. I did a drug screen, tb test, blood draw for titers.

I went back on Thursday to get my tb test read. The NP marked it a positive. I have a red blotch on my arm from the test and absolutely no induration. She sat there with her eyes closed, used her other hand and said no induration, but I don't like this. Then proceeded to talk to me about getting in contact with the health dept, omg!

Now this blotch on my arm is bruised in it and I can see the needle insertion site. Is this normal? My previous tb tests never caused any problems. I am getting a bit nervous here. I am scheduled to go back on Tuesday for another test. Any thoughts?

Also my drug test results have yet to come back. I am drug free, what is the hold up there? She asked if I was sure I had not taken any drugs.

I guess it was just not my day...

Lindsay,

Greater than how many cm in size? The CDC does not consider a positive for the test unless it is greater than 10cm in size with induration. A 3 cm size with a great amount of induration may be considered positive after 24 to 48 hours. Did they use tuberculin with a preservative? All of these things may need to be taken in to account. A positive response warrants a followup x-ray by any account, not a repeat test with possibility of anaphylaxis.

Panka

1 Votes

Only induration is measured, nothing else. Guidlines vary depending on risk factors, but for lindsay, it's probably >10 - 15 mm.

A chest x-ray is not done unless the PPD is positive (meaning, >10 - 15 mm induration). The cutoff is 15 mm for the average, low risk person; 10 mm if you work with high risk populations (migrant workers, medically undeserved) or in a high risk setting (nursing home, prison).

Glad to hear about the drug screen, lindsay! Is your PPD site getting better?

1 Votes

I went in today to get my 2nd test read. She took one look at my my arm and rubbed a finger on it and said. "Ok then, you are all set". Lol. I said "so what did my other test mean?" She said, "probably needle difficulties" What?

As for my other test site, it's still very bruised but seems to be slowly fading.

Thanks for thinking of me! ?

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