TB Testing
A TB test checks whether TB germs are in your body. The CDC recommends testing for people at higher risk, including anyone recently exposed to someone with active TB. The two options work differently, and the right one depends on your history and whether you can make a second trip to the clinic.
Skin test vs. blood test
For the TB skin test, a small amount of testing fluid is placed under the skin of the inner forearm, and you must return in two to three days so a trained clinician can measure the reaction. If you miss that window, the test has to be repeated. The TB blood test (an interferon-gamma release assay, or IGRA) needs only one visit. The CDC says the blood test is the recommended option for people who received the BCG (TB) vaccine, since that vaccine can cause a false-positive skin test.
If your result is positive
A positive test means TB germs are in your body. It doesn't tell you whether the infection is inactive or active TB disease, so your clinician will order more tests to find out. Per the CDC, people at higher risk include those who were born in or travel to places where TB is common, live in group settings, have weakened immune systems, or have conditions such as diabetes or HIV.
What it costs
Pricing differs between the skin test and the blood test. Ask the clinic for self-pay rates before testing. See the full Illinois cost guide.
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General health-services information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.