What is a TB blood test?

The tuberculosis (TB) blood test, also called an Interferon Gamma Release Assay or IGRA, is a way to find out if you have TB germs in your body. The TB blood test can be done instead of a TB skin test (Mantoux). There are two kinds of TB blood tests: • QuantiFERON®-TB • T-SPOT®.

TB You should have a TB blood (or TB skin test) if you:

• have had frequent close contact with someone who has active TB disease,
• have lived in a country where many people have TB
• work or live in a nursing home, clinic, hospital, prison, or homeless shelter, or
• have HIV infection or your immune system is not very strong.
• Children less than 5 years old should have the TB skin test instead of the TB blood test. How can I get a TB blood test?

What if my TB blood is “negative”?

A “negative” TB blood test result usually means that you don’t have TB germs in your body.

What if my TB blood is “positive”?

A “positive” TB blood test result means you probably have TB germs in your body. Most people with a positive TB blood test have latent TB infection. To be sure, you will need to do a chest x-ray.

You may need other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or active TB disease. What is latent TB infection? There are two phases of TB. Both phases can be treated with medicine. When TB germs enter your body, they cause latent TB infection. Without treatment, latent TB infection can become active TB disease.

What if I’ve had the BCG vaccine?

The BCG vaccine (TB vaccine) may help protect young

children from getting very sick with TB. This protection goes away as people get older.

People who have had BCG vaccine still can get latent TB infection and active TB disease.

If you had the BCG vaccine and you have a choice of having a TB blood test or a TB skin test, it is better for you to have the TB blood test. This is because the TB blood test is not affected by the BCG vaccine. This means that your TB blood test will be “positive” only if you have TB germs in your body.

Protect your health and the health of your family – get a TB blood test!