At Urgent Care + TeleHealth we offer the skin test in-house. The PPD or skin test will be performed by one of our providers. Then after 48-72 hours we’ll be able to provide the results. 

When necessary, we can also provide TB blood tests through a lab. The TB lab blood test, also known as the quantiferon takes about 1-3 days after the day the blood is drawn to get the results.

At Urgent Care + TeleHealth We aim to make healthcare as easy as possible, so we accept both walk-ins and appointments.

During the TB skin test, a tiny quantity of TB protein is injected beneath the skin of the forearm. 48 to 72 hours later, the injection site is examined for any signs of oedema or redness. Further testing could be required to identify whether active TB disease is present if a positive reaction indicates exposure to TB.

TB is a sickness that can be cured with a medicine called antibiotics, but it’s really important to take all of the medicine for the entire 3-6 month period, even if you start feeling better. If you don’t, TB can be very dangerous and could even cause death.

To stop TB from spreading, it’s important to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often, and stay away from other people if you have TB. If you’ve been told you have TB, it’s really important to follow the plan your doctor gave you, take all of the medicine they prescribed, and go to all of your follow-up appointments.

Remember, TB can be cured with the right treatment, so if you have any concerns or symptoms, it’s important to go see your regular doctor or come on in to Urgent Care + TeleHealth. If you have a hard time coming in to a clinic, you could also start with a video visit from home.

Some people have a higher chance of getting TB, according to the California Department of Public Health. This includes people who are close to someone who has TB, like your family members, friends, or people you work with.

People with weaker immune systems, such as those living with HIV/AIDS, people getting chemotherapy, or people taking medicine that weakens their immune system, are also more at risk. Additionally, people who were born in or have been to countries where TB is common are more likely to get the sickness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) keeps track of the top 20 countries with TB by estimated absolute number (in alphabetical order): Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania, and Vietnam.

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/hq-tuberculosis/who_globalhbcliststb_2021-2025_backgrounddocument.pdf?sfvrsn=f6b854c2_9

There are other things that can make it more likely for someone to get TB. This includes living in dirty or crowded places, being homeless or in jail, or using drugs.

Some ages are also more at risk, like babies and young kids. When women are pregnant, they are more likely to get TB too.

It’s really important for people who are more at risk to get checked for TB and to do things that can help stop them from getting sick, like getting a vaccine or taking medicine. If someone gets TB, finding it early and treating it can help prevent it from spreading and help them get better faster.

TB is a sickness that many people worldwide have – about one in four people! To stop it from spreading, it’s really important to check if someone has the sickness, even if they don’t have any symptoms yet. Public health agencies help find people who might have TB and other sicknesses that go along with it. They do this by checking the people the sick person has been near, and by helping people who have TB get the right treatment.

People often find out they have TB when they go to a clinic or doctor’s office. The CDC started something called the “Think, Test, Treat” program to help doctors find TB in people who might have it. They want to make sure people who have TB but don’t have any symptoms yet get the right treatment. Doctors also check to see if adults have TB before getting really sick because it can help stop the sickness from worsening or spreading to other family members. The tests they use are reliable, and the medicine for TB doesn’t usually have many bad side effects.

There are two main tests used to find out if you have TB (TB). 

• Doctors use different tests to see if someone has TB. One test is called the tuberculin skin test (TST) or Mantoux test. They put a little bit of liquid under your skin, and after a while, they check if there’s any redness or swelling. This test is done at the clinic. 
• Another test is called the interferon-gamma release assay or IGRA, which is a blood test that looks for a substance that shows if someone has been around TB.

The IGRA test is more accurate and doesn’t need a follow-up appointment to check the results. Both tests can find latent TB infection, which means someone has had TB before but doesn’t currently have the active disease. Sometimes, our doctors might do other tests like chest X-rays or sputum cultures to confirm if someone has active TB disease. Which test to use depends on factors like age, medical history, and risk of exposure. Early diagnosis and treatment of TB can help stop it from spreading and make people feel better.

TB tests may be necessary as part of a screening process for some jobs. Healthcare workers and caregivers are often required to undergo TB testing because they have a higher risk of exposure to the disease. That includes home care aides or anybody who provides home care services for profit for an older or dependent adult.

Other occupations requiring TB testing include working in prisons, homeless shelters, schools, or other places where people are more likely to contract TB. Moreover, TB testing may be needed for those who visit nations with a high TB prevalence or work in laboratories that handle TB specimens.

Workers exposed to someone with active TB disease or who have TB-like symptoms may also be subject to employer-mandated TB testing.

Testing for TB can assist in identifying people who have latent or active TB disease. That allows for early treatment and lowers the risk of transmitting TB to others. Employers and employees must both be aware of the risks associated with TB and take the necessary precautions to stop the disease’s spread inside the workplace.

• Healthcare
• Caregivers
• Teachers – once every four years
• Nursing home workers
• Caseworkers
• Correctional facilities

Generally speaking, people do not need a TB test every time they renew their registration. Nonetheless, as a condition of employment or enrollment in particular programs, some groups of people might need to submit to TB testing. For instance, as part of a pre-employment or annual screening process, healthcare professionals, including nursing assistants and medical personnel, may need to a TB test. Moreover, TB testing may be necessary for people who work in prisons or homeless shelters.

Also, people who have had direct contact with someone with active TB disease, people who have been to regions where TB is prevalent, and those who have symptoms suggestive of TB may all need to get tested for the disease. 

To find out if and how often TB testing is required, individuals must speak with their employer’s human resources (HR) department.

At registration, you must present documentation proving you are clear from TB infection. For each subsequent renewal (every 2 years), you must undergo a risk assessment screening to ensure you haven’t been exposed to TB since your last test. If the screening is successful, you won’t need a second TB test; if it is unsuccessful, you will need another one.

The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is sometimes used to prevent tuberculosis (TB), especially outside the USA in countries where TB is widespread. 

The tuberculin skin test, which is frequently used to check for TB infection, can also result in a positive reaction when the BCG vaccine is given. Positive skin test results in people who have gotten the BCG vaccine should be interpreted differently than in people who have not, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A positive response to the tuberculin skin test in someone who has received the BCG vaccine may point to either TB infection or the presence of the vaccine.

In these cases, at Urgent Care + TeleHealth, we’ll perform a chest x-ray in-house to check for any active signs of TB.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Tuberculosis (TB) – CDC Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/tb.htm
2. World Health Organization. (2021). Tuberculosis. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis
3. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2021). Tuberculosis (TB). Retrieved from https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis-tb
4. American Lung Association. (2021). Tuberculosis (TB). Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis

5. California Department of Public Health. (n.d.). TB risk assessment. Retrieved from https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/TB-Risk-Assessment.aspx
6. US Preventive Services Task Force. (2016). Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA, 316(9), 962–969. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.11046
7. MedExpress. (n.d.). TB in the workplace: How to protect yourself and your employees. Retrieved from https://www.medexpress.com/blog/workplace-wellness/tb-in-the-workplace.html
8. County of Napa. (n.d.). TB testing FAQs. Retrieved from https://www.countyofnapa.org/Faq.aspx?QID=744
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Tuberculin skin test results. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/testing/skintestresults.pdf