TB Skin Test

A Tuberculosis (TB) skin test is administered to determine if a patient has been exposed to bacteria that cause Tuberculosis. This test is done by injecting a small amount of the TB protein under the skin on the inner forearm. This infectious disease affects the lungs and can lead to serious complications and possibly death. A doctor may test for this if one has been in close contact with someone infected, for those pregnant, who have traveled to a country with high levels of TB or someone who works in a school. The arm is examined 48 to 72 hours after the injection to see if one is infected. Typically, the skin will showcase a raised or thickened area of the skin where the injection took place. Ultimately, the patient’s results depend on size of the bump on the arm. For those who are positive for TB, a doctor will then request an immediate chest x-ray.