TB-PPD info/HELP please

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

The school( 24 hr residental) where I work is going to start having us give PPD's to students and employees. I know that when I worked in the clinic there was questions we asked BEFORE we did the test, and info we gave to the patient. I looked and looked online for a week now, and nothing, and we are supposed to start Monday on these.

I remember one of them was "have you ever had a positive PPD before. And info was something like, no scratching/etc... If someone would be so good as to tell me the qx's you ask, and if there is a info/side effects I am also supposed to let them know.

Hate to ask, but our Dr. is just clueless, and I KNOW I need to do this.

I looked at the drug sheet that came with inj. but it didn't have much either. PLEASE help.

THANKS,

Nitaj

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Specializes in ICU, oncology, home health, hospice.

interesting you ask because i just realized that at my new job we give tb tests all the time and never ask any questions!! you're right-i do remember asking: have you ever had a positive tb test? did you ever receive the tb vaccine? (this was given way back in the 60's; i don't recall the name) do you live with anyone who has tb? do you have night sweats? do you have an unexplained cough? are you immunocompromised or taking steroids? i think that covers most of the questions. hope this helps! if i think of others i will post again! good luck!;)

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This isn't a question, but I like to warn them that the wheel will appear, and also that if the area becomes red, that does not mean it's positive. I've had people totally freaked out just because of a little bit of redness.

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Specializes in L&D, peds NN, and recently outpatient..

I always ask if they have any allergies and what they are. Also ask the + ppd question. And I echo what the last person said, warn them about the wheal....redness, etc. I like to cover it after with a 2x2 and vertically and very loosely tape it. Then in a hour or so they can remove it.

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I work in Kansas at a clinic and we received excellent education related to TB, PPD administration, and correctly reading TB tests from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Reading TB tests correctly is more involved then you might think.

You might check with your state health department to see about educational materials they may provide to you. TB is a growing problem and I find that the state health department is very interested in providing information to healthcare providers. Also, the questions we ask are: Have you ever had a positive TB test?; Is there any family history of TB?; Have you ever received BCG?; When did you have your last TB test?

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need to ask if they are pregnant or if they are breast feeding

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