Positive TB test?

[lucro91]

I am joining my local county's volunteer service and I had to get a PPD test today, and go back Wednesday to have it looked at. I'm paranoid for some reason about being positive for TB. Could they possibly not accept me into the program if I am a carrier?

 

[ah2388]

If you're PPD is positive, youll need more diagnostic treatment...dont be paranoid

 

[lucro91]

Well a better explanation into the paranoia, I don't have health insurance and barely make money at my current job so I am unsure if I could afford further treatment/screenig

 

[lightsandsirens5]

Possibly. However, a negative result is negative. A positive result is not automatically diagnostic of TB.

Don't worry about it. I've done plenty of travel to TB prone areas and I still get a negative result every time.

 

[Shishkabob]

If you pop positive, you get a chest xray.

 

[VFlutter]

Are you not required to have health insurance to work/volunteer at an agency?

If it was positive the next step would be a chest x ray and IGRA. Nothing too major.

Were you born in the USA? Receive vaccinations in a foreign country?

 

[lucro91]

No they don't require us to have insurance. And I was born in the US I went to Mexico when I was young on vacation but never got vaccinations or anything there

 

[titmouse]

I came up TB positive on the subcutaneous test and all I had to do is have an xray 8f the chest done. You'll be fine.

 

[mycrofft]

If your test is positive, your county medical people will be interested and you can probably get care through them. HOWEVER, all a + means is that you have antibodies, you were exposed. Most positives in US never convert to clinical or contagious case.

I always tested "equivocal", probably reacting to something in the solution other than dead or partial TB bugs. Chest xray always negative for TB.

 

[TheLocalMedic]

I had a clean PPD for years, but two years ago I came up positive in a big way. I mean, that lump was enormous! And to complicate matters I had had a persistent cough the previous month (although I do smoke, so I wasn't too worried). I immediately got a chest x-ray, which was clear *thank God*, but now my employer requires me to get an annual film done just to make sure. Sigh... guess I'll be glowing by the time I'm 50.

 

[xrsm002]

I have to do the chest x ray once a year as well as my PPD test comes up positive every time

 

[lucro91]

Thanks guys for all the info. The only thing that came up was a bruise from the needle which is already almost gone

 

[Anjel]

Thanks guys for all the info. The only thing that came up was a bruise from the needle which is already almost gone

See all that worrying for nothing.

 

[lucro91]

I know haha, my mom said the same thing