Tuberculosis Testing

Note: The information contained in this article is derived from the LIFELINE interview with Dr. Maria Castro. Dr. Castro is a family physician at El Mirage Family Health Center.

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a common infectious disease. It may be referred to as TB. TB usually attacks a person's lungs. If untreated, TB can cause large holes in the lungs. These holes are known as cavities. Cavities may amount in permanent lung damage or death.

TB may also attack one's central nervous system, circulatory system, and other parts of the body.

What causes Tuberculosis?

TB is caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This germ moves from person to person through the air. It causes two different conditions: TB infection or TB disease.

• TB infection has no symptoms. A person with TB infection has the TB germ but it is dormant.
• TB disease has symptoms. A person with TB disease is actively sick from the TB germ. A person with TB infection may develop TB disease later on.

What is the relationship between HIV and Tuberculosis?

People with HIV are more likely to contract TB. Further, a lot of people with TB will not develop symptoms unless their immune system is compromised, such as by HIV. Thus, people living with HIV are more likely to contract TB. They are then more likely to develop symptoms.

The prognosis for someone living with TB is almost always good. TB can usually be treated successfully in six to 12 months. Unfortunately, HIV can make TB more difficult to treat. Treatment may take longer. Further, permanent health consequences are more likely.

If you have HIV, when should you be tested for Tuberculosis?

The majority of people living with HIV should be tested for TB when first entering care. After this first test, most people living with HIV should be tested for TB each year.

What is the test for TB?

The most usual test for TB is easy. It is called the Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) skin test. The PPD test involves an injection right under the skin in your forearm. This is relatively painless. Then, you must return to the medical provider who is giving you the test 48 to 72 hours later. They will evaluate you for TB by looking at the place on your forearm where they previously injected you.

Testing for TB may also be done by a simple blood test. If either TB test comes back reactive, more testing is done. These further tests may involve Chest X-rays or sputum samples. These tests help determine if one has TB infection (dormant TB) or TB disease (active TB).

What does the Community Strength Project do to help with TB testing?

The CSP helps to increase the frequency of PPD testing. The CSP educates and provides support to healthcare professionals. They fostered the policy of flagging medical records of clients who needed PPD placement. They even instituted a call-back process for clients who did not return to have their skin tests evaluated.

Remember

Talk to your doctor or nurse about getting tested for TB. If you are newly HIV positive, make sure you get tested. If you have been living with HIV for a while, make sure you have a TB screening once a year!

You may also obtain testing through the Maricopa County Health Department, at 1645 E. Roosevelt St. in Phoenix.

Last updated on December 3, 2008