TB (Tuberculosis) Testing Clinic Q&A
Do you have symptoms of tuberculosis? Come to Reddy Urgent Care for a professional medical evaluation. We can help diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan unique for your needs. For more information, please call us. We have convenient locations to serve you.
Table of Contents:
What tests are done to confirm TB?
What happens if you have a positive TB test?
What are the 3 types of tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis, often abbreviated as TB, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although it mainly attacks the lungs, it can affect any area of the body, such as the brain, kidneys and spine. While not everyone who contracts TB exhibits symptoms, some people can experience severe illness that may require hospitalization.
There are several tests that can be performed to confirm the presence of tuberculosis. Common tests include:
Skin Tests: Also known as the Mantoux tuberculin skin test, skin tests are the most common type of test used in tuberculosis diagnosis. A tiny amount of fluid called tuberculin is injected just below the skin in the forearm. It contains inactive versions of TB proteins. Positive results are confirmed by raised, hard bumps or swelling at the site of the injection. If there is no reaction, the test is negative and TB bacteria was not detected.
Blood Tests: Interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) are blood tests used to measure the response to TB antigens. These may be performed instead of, or in addition to, a skin test.
Rapid Sputum Tests: When other tests indicate a possible TB infection, rapid sputum tests are used to confirm a tuberculosis diagnosis. Also called nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), rapid sputum tests are one of the best ways to diagnose TB.
X-Rays: A chest x-ray may be performed if the results of a skin or blood test came back positive. The doctor will look for spots on the lungs or any physical changes caused by tuberculosis.
A positive tuberculosis test result only confirms the presence of TB bacteria and does not indicate whether a person has an active or latent infection. This requires additional testing. TB disease can be diagnosed by lab tests, physical examination and medical history.
The three types of tuberculosis are:
Active TB: Active TB is an infection of TB bacteria that rapidly multiply and invade different areas of the body. A person with an active TB infection may spread the disease to others, even if symptoms are not severe. The typical symptoms of active TB include:
• Cough
• Phlegm
• Chest pain
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Chills
• Night time sweating
• Miliary TB: Miliary TB is a rare form of an active TB infection that occurs when tuberculosis bacteria move into the bloodstream. When this occurs, the bacteria quickly spread all over the body and can affect multiple organs simultaneously. This form of TB can be rapidly fatal.
• Latent TB: When someone with tuberculosis is asymptomatic (does not show any symptoms), it is known as latent TB. This encompasses many cases of TB and can be hard to determine without a TB test. A chest x-ray may not show any abnormal signs. The only indication of a latent TB infection may be a reaction to a skin or blood test. However, latent infections may escalate to active disease. The risk of this occurring is increased by illnesses or medications that compromise the immune system.
If you or someone you love is exhibiting symptoms of tuberculosis, seek medical treatment right away. At Reddy Urgent Care, we provide professional diagnoses and treatments for TB and can help you determine if you are infected. Call us today. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Downtown Long Beach CA, Bixby Knolls Long Beach CA, Paramount CA, East Side CA, and Los Altos CA.
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