To know whether you were exposed to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, you will need to get a tuberculosis skin test. Many people don’t know what is involved in getting a tuberculosis skin test but here are some of the things you can expect:

Procedure

It is similar to an allergy test but in this case, you will be injected with a miniscule amount of PPD or Purified Protein Derivative. Usually, this is administered on the forearm and shouldn’t be injected too deeply. You can see a tiny wheal or raised bump that will appear on the injection site. It feels just like getting pricked with a needle will feel. It will sting for a few seconds, but it shouldn’t be too painful.

Observation and Assessment

You can go home after the tuberculosis skin test, but you will be asked to go back to the clinic in the next 48-72 hours. They will need to check the injection site. Your healthcare provider will determine if the wheal has gotten bigger. How big the bump is and how red it will become will indicate the presence of the bacteria in your body.

Results

If the wheal did not get bigger and you didn’t notice significant redness, it usually indicates a negative result. However, if the swelling has increased and it has reached the threshold, it means you have been exposed to TB. You still need to undergo more thorough testing to determine if it is an active or a latent infection. Your physician might recommend getting a blood test or undergoing a chest X-ray to accurately determine the results.

What You Should Know

Try not to touch the injection site. Don’t prod or press it. Avoid scratching it as well. This can lead to infection or irritation. Additionally, if you are getting a TB skin test, make sure you let your health care provider know if you have had other vaccines in the past. If you have had a BCG vaccine recently, this can affect the outcome of the test.

Getting a TB Skin Test After Traveling

Have you been to a country with tuberculosis rampant in the area? Don’t wait until you experience the worst of it. Get a TB skin test to be sure. Since it is a disease that you can easily pass around, it’s best to know as soon as possible if you have it.

If you need a TB skin test, make sure you go to clinics like TravelVax Clinic.

Contact details

[1]. Phone:604-256-3588 / 1-888-989-8747

[2]. Email:[email protected]

[3]. Website:https://www.travelvax.ca/