Q&A

What is a tuberculin injection?

What is a tuberculin injection?

A TST is the intradermal injection of a combination of mycobacterial antigens that elicit an immune response (delayed-type hypersensitivity), represented by induration, which can be measured in millimetres. The standard method of identifying people infected with M. tuberculosis is the TST using the Mantoux method.

Is the tuberculin test a vaccine?

The TST is not a vaccine. The guidance for separating other vaccines from COVID-19 vaccination by at least 2 weeks in time does not apply to the TST because the TST is not a vaccine.

What angle do you inject TB test?

The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is an intradermal injection. With the needle bevel against the patient’s skin, insert it slowly at a 5- to 15-degree angle. The 5- to 15-degree angle is very important because this layer of skin is very thin.

What is the purpose of tuberculin test?

Tuberculin tests have been used in man principally (1) for detecting tuberculous infection in early childhood and for investigating its spread among the children of tuberculous households, (2) as an aid to the physician in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in individual cases, (3) to estimate the prognosis in cases of …

Can you get TB if you had the vaccine?

You can still get TB infection or TB disease even if you were vaccinated with BCG. You will need a TB test to see if you have latent TB infection or TB disease.

What if a TB test does not bubble?

In most cases, if there is no bump where the testing fluid was placed, you probably are not infected with TB. A doctor or nurse must look at the area to be sure.

How is tuberculin test done?

A skin test (also called a Mantoux test) is an injection of a tiny amount of tuberculin extract under the skin of your forearm. If you have been exposed to TB bacteria in the past, your skin can become raised and red, which can mean a positive result.

Who should be screened for TB?

People seeking care who may be eligible for TB screening include people with medical conditions that constitute risk factors for TB (such as people living with HIV and people with diabetes mellitus) who may seek care for reasons other than symptoms compatible with TB.

How long to get TB test results?

A health practitioner will interpret a tuberculin skin test result by looking at the injection site on the person’s forearm at 48 or 72 hours (in most cases). A positive result will form a red and swollen circle at the site of the injection.

When to check TB test?

The spot of the injection is examined between 48 and 72 hours after the injection to check for a raised area of the skin, known as an induration. If a TB skin test is positive, it means the person has a response to the bacteria that causes tuberculosis.

Where can I get TB test for free?

Free tests may be obtained at State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health clinics around the State. For the most updated information, visit Department of Health TB Branch website. Department of Health TB Control Program at Lanakila Health Center.