I'm pretty sure she did not do the TB test right

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So I went to the Urgent Care to get my 2nd portion of my 2 step ppd step yesterday. My first one was negative. So while she was doing paperwork and before she injected it, we were making small talk and I asked why it made that bubble when it is first injected. Just curiosity. She said, "That's how you know you did it right." Well, she injected my arm and at first, and I mean for about 30 seconds, it made a bump. It wasn't the same type of bump. It looked more like the type of bump you get when you scratch a mosquito bite, not the blister type of bump it formed last time.

I ended up paying and leaving. Last time I sat a few minutes while she finished my paperwork, this time I didn't. They were pretty busy. I figured it would just bump up in time. It never did. I didn't push on it or anything, and I had a loose long sleeve shirt on. The only thing there is a tiny red mark. The last red mark was about the size of a freckle. This one is about half a freckle. Is this telling me she did it wrong? What if there is no mark tomorrow when I get it read? I'm really on strict timeframe and needed this done now because I'm getting vaccines once its done. If they messed it up, I'll have time do try one more time, but that's it. And I'd definitely wouldn't want her again.

I'm assuming if she did it wrong, I wouldn't have to pay for another test. How ironic that she tells me what it's supposed to look like and then it doesn't. And I don't think she's a nurse. Most of the nurses were with the ill patients. I didn't have a nurse the last time either.

What should I do? Going there today isn't an option. I am going out of town Monday until Thursday, so that's why I did it Friday.

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Don't worry. I have had ~20 PPDs, not all of them make a huge wheal that you can see from across the room. :) As long as it doesn't read positive, I think you're fine.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Don't worry. I have had ~20 PPDs, not all of them make a huge wheal that you can see from across the room. :) As long as it doesn't read positive, I think you're fine.

I agree with the above, not all my PPD bumps ever looked the same (except the ones done by the nurse that tests us at the hospital where I volunteer). If you were infected with TB, any amount of that PPD injection that was delivered would probably react for sure.

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I got one yesterday too and it made the bump. Not all of them over the years have done that and I've had no problems with the readings. I would not be concerned.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Nah- it doesn't necessarily bump up. The only thing that really matters in the end is the amount of induration that is seen when it is read. You are supposed to put the needle in at a very low angle, and she may have put it a little deeper this time, but it will be fine.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

"What if there is no mark tomorrow when I get it read?"

It's really a good thing if there's no mark when you get it read. Whenever I have mine read, it's like nothing was ever there.

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So glad this post was here. I am starting Nursing School this Spring and currently in the process of doing my 2-step TB test. Today I got the first injection and it didn't bump up at all (not at all like the previous tests I've done) where there was a little bubble). The Medical Assistant who performed the test did it kind of high though on my forearm (an inch and a half away from my elbow crease).. I'm hoping this doesn't affect the reading.

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