Will I test positive for TB after treatment?

Yes, this is true. Even after you finish taking all of your TB medicine, your TB skin test or TB blood test will still be positive. Ask your healthcare provider to give you a written record that says your test was positive and that you finished treatment.

Does positive TB blood test mean?

A “positive” TB blood test result means you probably have TB germs in your body. Most people with a positive TB blood test have latent TB infection. To be sure, your doctor will examine you and do a chest x-ray. You may need other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or active TB disease.

Will I always test positive for TB?

Once you have a positive TB skin test you will always have a positive TB skin test, even if you complete treatment. Ask your doctor for a written record of your positive skin test result. This will be helpful if you are asked to have another TB skin test in the future.

How long can you test positive for TB?

If your exposure to TB germs was recent, your TB skin test reaction may not be positive yet. You may need a second skin test 8 to 10 weeks after the last time you spent time with the person with TB disease. This is because it can take several weeks after infection for your immune system to react to the TB skin test.

Does latent TB go away after treatment?

If someone was treated for LTBI in the past, they do not need treatment again, even if their tuberculosis test (skin test or IGRA) is “positive” or “reactive”. The exception is if they are re- exposed to someone with tuberculosis and someone from the Department of Health decides that re-treatment is indicated.

Can a TB blood test be false positive?

The test might show you don’t have TB when you do, especially if you were exposed a long time ago and your immune response to it is weak. Or you could get a false positive result if you’ve been vaccinated with the TB bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine.

Can you give blood if you have latent TB?

Acceptable if you have a positive skin test or blood test, but no active tuberculosis and are NOT taking antibiotics. If you are receiving antibiotics for a positive TB skin test or blood test only or if you are being treated for a tuberculosis infection, wait until treatment is successfully completed before donating.

Can TB be cured completely?

Active, drug-sensitive TB disease is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer. The vast majority of TB cases can be cured when medicines are provided and taken properly.

What does a positive TB blood test mean?

A positive TB skin test or TB blood test tells us that your body has been infected with the TB germ. The test does not tell us how long the germ has been in your body or if it’s active or latent (sleeping).

How do you know if you have tuberculosis (TB)?

The skin test is often used to determine the presence of TB, but the interpretation of the results can be subjective. Having multiple skin tests can also create a false positive. That’s why the TB blood tests are often used for a better confirmation.

When should you have a TB skin test or blood test?

When you should have a TB skin test or TB blood test. You should have a TB skin test or TB blood test if: • You have spent time with a person who has TB disease. • You have HIV infection or another health problem, like diabetes, that makes it harder for your body to fight germs.

What tests are used to diagnose tuberculosis (TB)?

There are two kinds of tests that are used to determine if a person has been infected with TB bacteria: the TB blood test and the TB skin test. TB blood tests (sometimes called IGRAs) use a blood sample to find TB infection. The tests measure the response of TB proteins when they are mixed with a small amount of blood.