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Safety of Tuberculosis Testing

The presence of tuberculosis traces back to 2400 BCE in Egyptian mummies. TB, short for tuberculosis, was once the No. 1 cause of death in the United States.

  1. Safety Concerns

    • According to vaccinetruth.org, the Centers for Disease Control states that the TB skin test is safe for people of all ages, including children and pregnant women.

    The Facts

    • A tuberculosis test, also known as the Mantoux skin test, determines if a person is infected with the tuberculosis bacteria. The TB vaccine contains a tiny amount of dead purified TB that is injected just under the top layer of the skin, usually on the upper left arm.

    Identification

    • TB is an air-borne bacteria. Once it is inhaled into the lungs, the immune system prevents the bacteria from spreading through the body and remains in the lungs as a latent infection (LTBI) without symptoms.

    Contagious Stage

    • Once the immune system weakens, the bacterium spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body and becomes contagious.

    Summary

    • A TB test starts with a visit to a doctor, clinic or health department. Next is a medical history questionnaire, then a prick on the arm. Three days later, the area is checked for extreme reddening or inflammation, which may signal exposure to TB. If no signs are evident, all is well.

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