Tuberculin Skin Test

Before having a tuberculin skin test, tell your doctor if you:

• Have symptoms of tuberculosis (TB), such as an ongoing cough, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss.
• Have had a severe reaction to a tuberculin skin test in the past.
• Have had TB in the past.
• Have risk factors for TB, which are things that increase your risk. Risk factors for TB include:
  • Contact with a person who has TB.
  • A job as a health care worker that may cause you to be exposed to people with TB.
  • Having lived or traveled in a country where TB is common.
• Have been given a TB vaccination. The vaccine contains a bacteria called BCG (Reference bacille Calmette-Guérin Opens New Window) that is closely related to the bacteria that cause TB.
• Have been treated with medicines, such as Reference corticosteroids Opens New Window, that can affect your Reference immune system Opens New Window.
• Are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• Have a skin rash that may make it hard to read the skin test.

Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a Reference PDF Opens New Window document?).

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.