Testing for Tuberculosis (TB)

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In a question and answer format, this information sheet discusses testing for tuberculosis (TB). There are two kinds of tests that are used to determine if a person has been infected with TB bacteria: the tuberculin skin test (TST) and TB blood tests. It explains these two kinds of tests in detail: what is a TST, how does the TST work, what does a positive TST result mean, and who can receive a TST, what is an Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA), how does the IGRA work, what does a positive IGRA result mean, who can receive an IGRA, how often can it be given, and who should get tested for TB. The sheet concludes with how to choose a TB test and how the diagnosis of latent TB infection or TB disease is made.

Audiences:

General Public

Topic:

TB

Language:

English