The Suburban Cook County Tuberculosis Sanitarium District - Tuberculin Skin Testing

The Suburban Cook County Tuberculosis Sanitarium District

Text Box: Tuberculin Skin Tests The tuberculin skin test (TST) detects individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If a person is infected, a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction is detectable 2-8 weeks after infection. It is not a vaccine that prevents TB. The skin test is administered intradermally using the Mantoux technique by injecting 0.1 ml of TU purified protein derivative (PPD) solution. The reading and interpretation of TST reactions should be conducted within 48 to 72 hours of administration by trained health care professionals. Patients or family members should not be relied upon to measure TST results.

Text Box: The tuberculin skin test should not be performed on a person who has a documented history of either a previous positive result or treatment for TB disease. The BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine is used in many parts of the world where TB is common to protect infants and young children from serious, life-threatening forms of TB disease. Tuberculin skin test reactivity caused by BCG vaccine generally wanes with the passage of time. A history of BCG vaccine is not a contraindication for tuberculin skin testing or treatment for latent infection. TST reactions should be interpreted regardless of BCG vaccination history. Tuberculin skin testing is discouraged for those at low risk for developing TB disease. Although skin testing programs should be conducted among high-risk groups, certain individuals may require testing for meeting requirements for employment or school attendance.

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