I Need Help Possitive Looking PPD

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I am starting a new job Monday. Three days ago I had my PPD test done. I noticed that the area is pink the same day, the size of a quarter, and is swollen, not painful, bit itchy. Three days have passed and it have not improved. I have to have it read Monday, and it's not really looking good. I have not been working for 6 months, and it's pretty unlikely I'd have come into contact with TB. I have had so many tests done in my life and I don't recall this kind of reaction in the past. The only differences between this test and those of the past are that the nurse giving the shot held my skin by the back of my arm to make the skin tight (perhaps making a deeper placement of the needle) and I believe I have never used the brand because in the past the PPD seems to make my arm tingle and feel odd and this did not. I wish I could find more photos of possitive TB tests just to ease my mind. Any thoughts?

Specializes in Home Health, Hospice.

I had the same reaction a couple of years ago when I started CNA class - it got so big (almost 1 1/2 inches) that I called the clinic. They had me come in at 48 hrs instead of 72. It was an allergic reaction to the shot itself. The way the nurse explained it to me - a positive TB test will have a small fluid filled blister (not sure about this but that's what I was told). I had to get another one this year when I started RN school - and had no reaction to it this time!!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
WAIT!!! I am confused. If you test positive and have a CRX you no longer have to take the PPD???

Yes. Usually once you test positive, you will always test positive, so no need to be tested year after year. Some places require a yearly chest xray, other places make you sign a statement yearly that you have none of the symptoms, and list the symptoms. But no yearly ppd once you test positive.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

That is an allergic reaction to the thirmasol....your next PPD should be the preservative free one....I have that reaction to anything with thirmasol.

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Specializes in Pediatric ICU.

I'm a pre-nursing student in Pathophysiology this semester. We just covered TB. The instructor said that the induration must be raised and not necessarily red, and at least 15 mm. That's a big spot! Itching was insignificant. Also, she said that that just indicates exposure and must be confirmed with a sputum culture (although a CXR will be done first).

Just figured ya'll would like to know what they're teaching us newbies....

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