Positive TB test

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

How do you know?

Is a red area that is 10 mm in diameter enough? I was reading up on it and it said it had to be hard and indurated.

Can anyone help?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

First of all, you do read the induration, not the redness.

Whether or not a TB test is positive depends on the person's medical and social history.

For almost all healthy individuals born in the United States, a TB test is positive at 15 mm.

If you've had a dirty needlestick, contact with someone with TB, a blood transfusion before 1985, or same sex partners then you are positive at 5.

If you have a history of cancer, diabetes or kidney failure, or you were born in Africa, the Caribbean, or Asia then you are positive at 10.

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Induration is what they really look for, not redness. 10 sounds about right, but I don't administer them and don't really have the number in mind right now.

That's all I have to say about it really. I should get mine done soon.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

Quit looking at your arm! ;) :)

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I have to get a TB test here soon and have no clue what to expect? Is it painful or something? After they inject the stuff intradermally when do I go back to get it "read" and why the need for a booster a week later??

Thanks!

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Mine usually sting a bit.

It's read in 48-72 hours.

The booster is called a two-step test. It's like a double check.

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