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Discussion

TB Test Question

I am not asking for medical advise. I would like to understand how the TB test works for future reference as nurse and if I ever have to get 2 TB tests again.

Here is the question: Is waiting one week between TB tests too soon and can it be done on the same arm? History below if needed...

In the past my nursing school accepted my chest x-ray. However for the upcoming clinical, I had to have an actual TB test. 1st one was negative, however I had the second one done one week later, and the NP at CVS did it on the same arm. I went to my FNP to have it read, and she thought maybe it was done too soon and shouldn't be done on the same arm.

My NP said I needed a chest x-ray because the middle part is very red and slightly raised, and she didn't feel comfortable saying it was negative. The area is not hard, but I know I have very sensitive skin and thinking that the CVS NP should have known not to do it on the same arm so soon. I still have a bruise from the first TB test over a week ago.

My chest x-ray was normal by the way! SO all clear!!!

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    One week is too long. 2-3 days. for reading

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    Mine was done in the same arm, no issues.

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    One week is too long. 2-3 days. for reading

    She means she got two tests done, a week apart.

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    Why was the 1st one not good enough? I would have thought that the first one that was a week old would have been good enough?

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    We have a two step TB test policy at my office and we typically do our first TB test, read after 72 hours, wait 1-3 weeks, administer the 2nd step and read after 72 hours. I typically do it on the opposite arm that we did the first one but I don't believe it would make a difference if you did it on the same arm.

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    There is a blood test out there now - the T spot test. Some places started to use this test instead of the 2 step test, which requires two skin tests within a certain time period to be cleared.

    You can ask the place if a T-Spot would be acceptable.

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    • Author

    For the first TB test, nursing schools require 2 TB tests. Not sure why, but they do. In the future I will be getting the blood test for sure. Thanks for the info y'all!

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    Same arm is OK as long as it was far enough away from the first one so as not to have overlapping results potentially resulting to a misread. A 2 step test is correct as stated.I am quessing the blood test costs more the skin test but less than a CXR.

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