Two to three days after getting a tuberculin skin
test, the size of any bump at the site is measured. Your risk of having TB is
used along with the size of the bump to determine whether the test is:
Positive, meaning you have been infected with TB
bacteria.
Negative, meaning you have not been infected with TB
bacteria or your body cannot respond to the protein injected because of a
weakened immune system.
The test cannot tell if you have a latent (inactive) infection
or active TB that can be spread to others.
ByHealthwise Staff Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Specialist Medical ReviewerR. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Medical Toxicology & W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
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