PPD Testing

[masstudent]

I have a few questions about PPD testing. I went to apply for a job at a major teaching hospital and before I can be considered for a job I have to first have a PPD test done. I am used to being hired for the job and then having to have a PPD test done and the hospital PAYS for it. This hospital required that I pay for it and I debated whether I wanted to work there. It wasn't so much that it cost $20, it was the fact that if the hospital requires it and isn't willing to spend the money on something preventive, what can I expect from them if I get injured on the job? Is it normal for a hospital not to pay for the test? I finally sucked it up and had it done today. My insurance said the only way they would pay for it was if I was a drug user or had HIV which to me is a surprise since you can get TB if you are part of a susceptible population.

My other concern has to do with the statement the nurse giving me the PPD made which is that I shouldn't have the test done yearly (or every 6 months) because I was going to have a false positive reaction eventually from being tested. This is a concern of mine and I guess a concern of others on this board from old posts I read but seeing how HCP get tested so often I would think this is a very low risk. I was really surprised she made this statement. Has anyone else ever heard of this? I didn't think you could get TB from a PPD or get a false positive due to too many tests over the years. (By the way, I am assuming it was a nurse who did the test but I am not positive.)

[RN.38SPCL]

I Am An Rn And Work In A County Jail. Correctional Facilities Have Been Notorious In The Past As Being Considered High Risk For Tb. I Have Recently Been In Contact With The Cdc And My State Health Dept Tb Control Nurse. According To Both And Latest Research, They Are Recomemnding Health Care Facilities Discontinue Requireing Their Employees To Get A Yearly Ppd. Cdc States That Tb Cases Are Few And Only Found Now Among High Risk Populations Such As Hiv Etc. They Also Reported That The General Public Has Begun To Show Positive Reactions To The Ppd From Years Of Testing And Then Require A Yearly Chest X-ray Which Isn't Good. Where I Work, The Entire Region Has Not Seen A Case Of Tb In Quite Some Time And The Facility I Work In Is Considered Low Risk Due To That Fact. Thus, They Recomend A Verbal Screening Only For Tb Upon Incarceration And Only Do A Ppd If The Person Says They Have Been Exposed Or Show Symptoms. Also, Mexico Has A Tb Vaccine That Is Not Approved In The States. Illegals Always Have A Positive Reaction To Ppd. Many People Who Were Not Ill With Tb Were Treated Anyway Just In Case And That Is Not Good Either. Maybe Someone Else On This Board Has More Info For You. It May Vary By State.