Job Discussion Forums

[snowsilver]

Will a positive TB skin test keep you out of the Kingdom if the chest X-ray is totally negative?

[johnslat]

Dear snowsilver,
To be honest, I don't know. But here's some info:
"Tuberculosis skin tests have existed for 100 years to diagnose possible infections. The test is presented as a benign, protective necessity. However, TB tests may not be as benign as purported. A TB skin test, the Mantoux (tuberculin) test or the Tine test, involves injecting a small amount of tuberculosis antigen into the skin. A clinician will observe the skin reaction to this test. If there is a positive reaction of swelling, redness, or blistering then the test is pronounced positive. A positive result means that the person has been exposed to tuberculosis bacteria at some time in the past and developed antibodies. However, false positive and false negative test results are common. If someone had a TB vaccination at any time in the past, or if they were exposed to TB, then their antibodies to the vaccine will cause a positive TB skin test. Ninety percent of people exposed to TB will not contract the disease. The skin test fails to detect half of people with latent TB, and false-negatives are common in individuals with weakened immune systems. Usually anyone with a positive skin test for TB is advised to complete at least six months of treatment with the antibiotic isoniazid (INH). It is estimated that 50 percent of people prescribed antibiotics on the basis of a positive skin reaction do not have TB infection at all.
A much safer, more accurate, quicker, and convenient blood test exists for the detection of tuberculosis infection. The blood test is performed on a plasma sample with results available in 24 hours. In Europe the blood test was approved for use in July 2004 and will replace the tuberculin skin test. This test is approved to detect both active and latent TB in infants, children, and adults. The test detects T cell response to infection which can exist in the body for years without symptoms. The population of latently infected people acts as a reservoir of TB with undetected individuals capable of spreading infection. A similar blood test was approved by the FDA in 2001 for detection of latent TB in the US and recommended for individuals at high risk or for screening purposes. Some labs do the test, but not all, so it may take some searching to find it. The name of the test is the Quantiferon TB gold blood test."

http://www.cure-guide.com/Natural_Health_Newsletter/TB_Blood_Test/tb_blood_test.html

"Valencia CA. - Physicians & TB controllers around the country can now quickly and accurately detect M. tuberculosis infection with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT(TM)). This blood test detects cellular immune responses to proteins specifically associated with tuberculosis (TB) infection. It replaces the original QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold, and offers the same specificity and accuracy advantages. In addition, the new In-Tube format, already widely used in Europe and Asia, simplifies testing and fits with existing laboratory equipment, giving convenient TB testing from Kalispell to Key West. Both tests replace the 100-year-old tuberculin skin test (TST)."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/85399.php

Regards,
John

[Stephen Jones]

I thought they simply did the X-Ray. The skin test would prove positive if you had been vaccinated or if you simply have latent TB, which affects about 30% of the population.

The only way to be sure if you have TB is to find the bacteria in a physical specimen taken from the patient. In my case even that didn't work, and the doctor told me he was only sure I had TB when he found the medication was actually working!

[wanna_teach]

I was vaccinated as a baby, so TB my TB tests are always positive. So whenever a TB test is required, I tell the doctor to skip the test and do the chest xrays. Negative chest xrays are usually sufficient to prove that you are TB free.

[Amenti]

My husband was also vaccinated as a baby and thus his TB skin test appears positive. He had to have a chest xray and that was enough to come to Saudi!