A person cannot get TB from touching people, shaking hands, or touching bed linens or toilet seats. A person cannot get TB by sharing food or drink, sharing toothbrushes, or kissing. (However, they can become infected with other communicable diseases by doing these things. )

If the person has latent TB infection, they are infected with the TB bacteria, but their body is able to fight it off. They will not experience any symptoms and will not feel sick. They also will not be infectious and cannot spread TB to others. A skin test will indicate TB infection. However, if the patient’s body stops being able to fight off the bacteria, they can become ill with TB disease. They may become ill shortly after being infected, or they might feel fine for years until their immune system is weakened by something else. TB disease occurs when a patient’s body cannot keep the TB bacteria from multiplying. They will feel sick and experience symptoms. People with TB disease are infectious and can spread the bacteria to others. A skin test will indicate TB infection.

A bad cough lasting 3 weeks or longer Chest pain Coughing up blood or bloody sputum (mucus) Fatigue or weakness Weight loss Loss of appetite Chills or fever Night sweats

A vial of tuberculin (tuberculin should always be stored in a refrigerator) Latex gloves Small disposable tuberculin syringe, 1. 2 cc or smaller, with a needle 25 g or smaller Alcohol swab Cotton ball Ruler with millimeter measurements Sharps disposable container Patient’s paperwork

The expiration date should be printed on the label. It will indicate when an unopened vial should no longer be used. If the expiration date has passed, don’t use the vial. Check the date the vial was opened. The label should also specify a beyond-use date indicating how long after its initial opening a vial can still be used. If the beyond-use date has passed, don’t use the vial. Your local health department will be able to let you know the exact number of days after a multidose vial is opened before you must discard it. The manufacturer’s guidelines should state whether the vial is single or multidose. A multidose vial includes a preservative that allows you to administer it to more than one patient.

Rinse your hands with a paper towel and put on a pair of latex gloves.

Tell the patient that you will be injecting a very small amount of fluid into their arm. If infection is present, the injection site will show a reaction, such as swelling or a raised, hard area. [13] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Explain that the patient must return to your office after 48-72 hours to have the test site examined. If the patient cannot return after 48-72 hours, do not administer the test. Make another appointment.

Be sure the patient’s arm is on a firm, well-lit surface. Slightly flex the arm at the elbow and position the hand palm side up. Look for a place below the elbow clear of elements that could interfere with the test reading, like hair, scars, veins, or tattoos.

Allow the alcohol to dry.

Place the vial on a flat surface, then insert the needle into the stopper. Draw the solution. Pull back on the plunger and draw out slightly more than one-tenth (0.

  1. of a milliliter of solution. Remove the needle from the vial. Make sure there are no bubbles in the syringe. If there are bubbles, expel the bubbles by slightly pushing the plunger up while pointing the needle of the syringe towards the ceiling.

Allow to dry. Stretch the skin at the injection site taut between your thumb and forefinger. Hold the syringe flange parallel to the forearm with the needle bevel facing upwards. Still holding the skin taut, insert the needle slowly into the injection site at a 5-15 degree angle.

Let the skin go and hold the syringe steady. Depress the plunger to inject the solution intradermally, just below the superficial layer of skin. A tense, pale raised area about 6-10 millimeters will immediately appear over the needle bevel.

Do not recap the needle; you’ll risk sticking yourself. Discard the needle immediately in a sharps container. If a drop of blood appears on the patient’s arm, blot it lightly with a cotton ball or gauze pad. Don’t cover the site with a bandage because it could interfere with the test. [17] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Return the tuberculin solution to the refrigerator or a cooling container. [18] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source

If the raised area is smaller than 6 millimeters, it indicates that either the needle was inserted too deeply or the dose was inadequate. You should repeat the test. You may also need to repeat the test if the patient doesn’t return 48-72 hours after the injection to complete the test. [20] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source If you need to repeat the test, choose another site at least 2 inches (5. 1 cm) away from the original site. [21] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source

Verify the appointment for the test reading. The test must be read by a trained healthcare provider. The patient cannot read the test on their own.

Instruct the patient to avoid scratching the site, covering it with a bandage, or applying any itching creams. Instruct the person to also avoid scrubbing the area, though showering is okay.