+ve TB test

letina · Nov 4, 2006

Had a TB test done this week at my place of work on orientation and had a positive reaction. Anybody else experienced this? Waiting on what the outcome will be. Doctor to look at my chest x-ray done in London in July.

Hi :)

Yes, same thing happened to me. My PPD was positive when I had my employee health screen. I offered to show my chest x-ray from when I had my medical in London, but they said no, they wanted me to have another one done. They offered me the treatment, but I declined after reading the side effects. The treatment was not compulsory, just recommended. It didn't prevent me from working.

english_nurse · Nov 4, 2006

there really shouldnt be any reason to have treatement, as i assume the reason you are positive is due to the bcg vaccine you probably had as a teenager?

its unfortunate that in the usa they dont recognise this.

the antibiotic therapy they offer is a 6 month course, i cant say i would be happy taking isonaizid and rifampin for that long myself, hopefully reviewing the xray will ensure you dont have to do this

blimy apriljan you are not having the easiest of times are you, bless

suehp · Nov 4, 2006

I know 2 british nurses who had a positive TB test and they had loads of hassles with everyone wanting them to take treatment etc. It ook a huge effort for them to convince them it wasnt TB but the fact they had the BCG....having the xray from the Embassy did help a little in this situation too.

I never had the BCG so it has never been an issue with me.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 4, 2006

there really shouldnt be any reason to have treatement, as i assume the reason you are positive is due to the bcg vaccine you probably had as a teenager?
its unfortunate that in the usa they dont recognise this.
the antibiotic therapy they offer is a 6 month course, i cant say i would be happy taking isonaizid and rifampin for that long myself, hopefully reviewing the xray will ensure you dont have to do this
blimy apriljan you are not having the easiest of times are you, bless

Sorry, but we do recognize that many had BCG as children, but the newer literature that has xome out from the Indectious Disease people suggests that if you had the BCG more than 15 years before, the reason that you are now testing as positive is that you have come into contact with someone that was positive and have developed antibodies to the tb. In many locales here they are treating if the person is younger than 39 or so.

Many that get the BCG come from locales where the tb has been more prevalent than others, such as SE Asia, India, etc.

rsmit02 · Nov 5, 2006

LOL My sister has this problem EVERYTIME she changes jobs, she tests positive because she had the BCG and EVERYTIME they send her for a chest x ray and everytime its fine what an expense!!!

The BCG is a vacine that is exactly the same as being exposed to TB via a patient it makes the body produce an immune response so you develop antibodies to it. It doesnt matter how many years pass from the BCG vaccination to your test you will ALWAYS test positive there is no way of telling if you are testing positive from the BCG or from contact with an infected patient.

My sisters last work place told her because she questioned the expense of it all with a chest xray again that she will always test positive for the test but they still need to check her because although she can not get TB due to her innoculation as a child if she has had recent contact with a TB patient and doesnt know it even though she is fine she can still pass the TB on to someone with no immune response to it so she needs the xray.

I guess its something you need to get used to as a UK nurse working in the USA, my sister has resigned herself to having this everytime she changes jobs.

Ruth x

english_nurse · Nov 5, 2006

i had the bcg vaccination 4 years ago and on my recent PPD was negative?!?

vicks · Nov 6, 2006

Ok this is the first time I've posted but I felt the need to respond to this one!

I wouldn't worry about the PPD being negative as they're not very reliable. I had a BCG when I was 13 but my scar faded a couple of years ago (im 21). I've just began a Nursing degree and occupational health had to do a Mantoux skin test on me to confirm my TB status. It came up in a really big nasty bruise but was negative so the next day they carried out another one on my other arm, this time there was no bruise but still a negative reaction. They believe me about having the BCG as they can just barely see my scar but can't accept it as evidence and since the skin tests haven't worked they're going to vaccinate me again :uhoh21:

Does anyone know anyway around this as I really don't want the BCG again! Also, 2 days after the skin test was read a red bump appeared and has been there eversince. I had it 11 days ago! Does this mean anything?

Vicky :lol2:

apriljan · Nov 7, 2006

No, If it was going to happen to anyone it would have to happen to me!! I was the onlt one who had a positive reaction. However, my x-ray is still sitting there waiting for the doctor to review, so they can't be too worried LOL! Mind you they've had the state in today and will be there all week so I guess they have more on their mind at the moment!!

english_nurse · Nov 7, 2006

Ok this is the first time I've posted but I felt the need to respond to this one!
I wouldn't worry about the PPD being negative as they're not very reliable. I had a BCG when I was 13 but my scar faded a couple of years ago (im 21). I've just began a Nursing degree and occupational health had to do a Mantoux skin test on me to confirm my TB status. It came up in a really big nasty bruise but was negative so the next day they carried out another one on my other arm, this time there was no bruise but still a negative reaction. They believe me about having the BCG as they can just barely see my scar but can't accept it as evidence and since the skin tests haven't worked they're going to vaccinate me again :uhoh21:
Does anyone know anyway around this as I really don't want the BCG again! Also, 2 days after the skin test was read a red bump appeared and has been there eversince. I had it 11 days ago! Does this mean anything?
Vicky

maybe its worth gong back to have it re-read it sounds like a reaction to me

not that im an expert lol

RGN1 · Nov 7, 2006

I'm going to have an even bigger problem because I have natural immunity to TB!! I was born in Sri Lanka so I wonder if I was exposed as a child & managed to build immunity from that???

Anyway whenever I've had a skin test it's always come up as a reaction so I've never been given the BCG (have had 3 tests in my life - as teen at school, as a nursing student & as a return to nursing student). Heavens knows what'll happen when my PPD reacts! I do have documentationt to prove my immunity but don't suppose that'll wash with US authorities!

BTW if your PPD bruised Vicky I think it may have been administered incorrectly & that might be the reasons that you haven't reacted properly each time? Don't forget the PPD test is really knew here in the UK & I suspect many occ health nurses & GP nurses are still not fully comfortable or practised in the technique.