Positive ppd test

Nurses General Nursing

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Just moved to new area. Doing pre-employment stuff for new job...

My TB test read as positive today-now what happens? I'm stressed, this has never happened before. Any thoughts?

agr8rn said:
Sounds to me like your test may have been positive; either that or you had an allergic reaction to the ppd solution (it does happen.)

Any amount of induration that can be palpated greater than 10mm (5mm if immunocompromised) is considered positive. Imagine a mosquito bite - a positive reading looks like that generally. (ie it is red and has palpable swelling/firmness above or under the skin)

Anyone can be exposed in the community without even knowing it; it's much more common now than 20 years ago.

If you think you were misread, mention it to your family physician and get a chest xray.

A positive test doesn't mean you have TB, just were exposed to someone with it.

I am so glad I found this webpage. I am about to start an LVN program and I was told that I need the tb test. well my other 2 tests were negative, but this one really scared me. it turned red and it was swollen. it was kind of the size of a peny. After two days I went back to have it checked and the first nurse that check it, asked me if that was the first time i have tested positive, she though it was positive, but another male nurse though it was negetive, so he called a doctor, he said it was negative, i guess it was 7 mm. Anyways even if they say it was negative I am still really afraid, because n omy other two tests i didn't even get a red spot. I have so many questions, I know that once you test positive, you should not have the test again, will I be able to have the test again, will I always have a reaction, (7 mm) will the infection disappear or will increase? what if my next one is 10mm. I consider my test almost positive eventhough my enduration was less than 10mm. Will I be fine if I keep having the test every year. I am so afraid becuase I think I won't be able to find a job in the future if I test positive.

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Hello everyone. For nursing school, i had to take a 2 part tb test. It has been 3 days since my first injection and has left me with a raised red bump the size of a dime. The redness extends out past to the size of a quarter on my arm. I am in the U.S. So I don't know if the medication for me is mandatory and if it is, i have been diagnosed with hepatitis c so i don't think that i would be able to take the series of meds due to its effects on the liver. I don't even know if the nursing school will take me now. I'm so worried. Please help!

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I h ave no comment about the other issues but go to your local Health department or doctor and get a chest x-ray. If you have no active TB they should take you.

We have a LARGE African nurse/CNA population here and without faill, almost every single one of them have to get chest x-rays due to positive TB readings.

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

Nobody here can answer your question exactly because we cannot give advice.

But, I know there have been many ppl that have had a false positive for various reasons. I know I did because I had so many of them dang darn things in nsg school I started having reactions to the tb injection. So unless you are 100% + ur are positive, do some research and inform yourself.

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Specializes in psych,maternity, ltc, clinic.

Standard follow up to positive ppd is Chest xray. Positive PPD does not mean you have tb.

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Specializes in Peds HH, LTC.

I had a false positive TB test once as well. The MD that read the test is telling me not to worry because he tests +

Some people just need to get annual CXR instead of annual TB tests, to make sure that IF you do have it, it's contained.

With proper documentation and follow up with your local health department, this should not prevent you from attending nursing school.

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Specializes in CTICU.

I was actually allergic to the solution they gave the test with, and had to get a different one. Go back to the provider who gave the test to have it read properly and try not to freak yourself out.

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I know how you feel, I was an emt/ fire fighter for six years, when I first started I always had - test results then 3 years into the job I tested + now I always worry that I won't be accepted in classes ( cna and nursing) and it's also stressful when you start a new job in heatlhcare, so far I have just had to make sure i get the xray and prove im not active so I don't spread it to anybody, oh and I also have opted not to take the medicine because I don't have the time to be sick from meds. Good luck just wanted you to know your not alone.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
bohica said:
I know how you feel, I was an emt/ fire fighter for six years, when I first started I always had - test results then 3 years into the job I tested + now I always worry that I won't be accepted in classes ( cna and nursing) and it's also stressful when you start a new job in heatlhcare, so far I have just had to make sure i get the xray and prove im not active so I don't spread it to anybody, oh and I also have opted not to take the medicine because I don't have the time to be sick from meds. Good luck just wanted you to know your not alone.

A skin test nor a chest x-ray diagnoses TB. Sputum samples as well as a biopsy is what would be needed.

No way are they going to prescribe you any meds (which most people have to take from six months to a year if they do have TB) based on a skin test and x-ray...positive or not.

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That's good to know, I have only done the skin test for my job periodically , then when one came back positive I had to start doing x-rays each year. This was for my job on the ambulance I feel fine and never had an x-ray come back with concern so was never told I have to take meds but if I did I would definitely asks for more testing first , however I did have coworkers that were put on meds for just a exposure and it made them ill so I was stating that I would not take meds for that it make you to sick.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
bohica said:

That's good to know, I have only done the skin test for my job periodically , then when one came back positive I had to start doing x-rays each year. This was for my job on the ambulance I feel fine and never had an x-ray come back with concern so was never told I have to take meds but if I did I would definitely asks for more testing first , however I did have coworkers that were put on meds for just a exposure and it made them ill so I was stating that I would not take meds for that it make you to sick.

Well, that is a choice, when you are exposed. Same thing with HIV protocol from a dirty needles stick. I would be willing to take my chances with a 80-year-old man that has been married for 50 years but a 22 year-old college student? No way.

However, if I was ever knowingly exposed...I couldn't justify not going through medicinal prevention measures.

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Yah I hear ya , i may have took the meds if I knew when I was exposed too, but now I just try to take care of myself the best I can.

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