Tuberculosis Testing

board of health

Tuberculosis Testing

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious airborne disease caused primarily by bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack any part of your body, including the kidneys, spine, or even the brain, but they usually attack the lungs. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.

TB testing is offered on a sliding fee scale according to income and family size.

Latent TB Infection (LTBI)

Tuberculosis has two general states: latent TB infection and active TB disease. Only those who develop active TB can transmit the disease. If a person is diagnosed with latent TB infection it means that the person has inhaled TB bacteria and become infected with TB, but only has dormant (inactive) TB bacteria in their body.

Active TB Disease

Usually, have signs and symptoms
Usually feel sick
May spread TB bacteria to others
Usually, have a positive skin test reaction
May have an abnormal chest x-ray, or positive sputum smear or culture
Need treatment to treat active TB disease

TB is contagious, but not as contagious as other diseases such as the flu or chickenpox. To get infected, a person usually has to spend many hours over an extended period of time with the person who has infectious.