| Tuberculin infection represents the infection with | | | | Even so, a tuberculin test is recommended for |
| Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This problem may not | | | | persons that get in close contact with someone that |
| affect only the possessors of the infection but the | | | | has TB, health care workers that are exposed to |
| people with who they get in contact too. There are | | | | tuberculosis, people that develop symptoms similar to |
| known two types of tuberculosis: active and inactive | | | | the TB patients such as ongoing cough, night sweats |
| infections. Both of them have to be noticed in time | | | | or weight loss with problematic appetite loss. In need |
| because the people's health is in danger. That is why | | | | to take this test are also the persons who have |
| a tuberculin skin test is recommended. | | | | abnormal chest X-ray and persons who recently had |
| This test consists of injecting right under the skin a | | | | an organ transplant. Persons with impaired immune |
| small and precise amount of TB protein (antigens) on | | | | systems or those with human immunodeficiency virus |
| the inner forearm. If the person that is having the | | | | (HIV) are at risk for developing tuberculosis. |
| test was exposed to the TB bacteria his skin will | | | | This tuberculosis skin test is not recommended for |
| react to the antigens, developing a red bump in the | | | | persons with known TB infections, positive tuberculin |
| injected area within two days. | | | | skin tests in the past or skin rashes that might make |
| One of the most used tests in United States is | | | | impossible the interpretation of the test. |
| Mantoux. This test is based on TB antigens called | | | | Before taking a test you should tell your health care |
| purified protein derivative or PDD. The problem with | | | | professional if you have TB symptoms or if you had |
| this test is that it can not say precisely weather it is | | | | TB in the past, of if risk factors such as contacts |
| a active or an inactive infection. | | | | with infected persons, a health care worker that may |
| This PDD test uses an exact amount of TB antigens | | | | be exposed to people with tuberculosis, occur. |
| that are injected under the top layer of the skin. It is | | | | In two or three days after the test the results are |
| often used when symptoms are registered and when | | | | available. The size of the bump will determine the |
| other testing methods such as a chest X-ray show | | | | result. So, a positive test means a raised bump in the |
| that the person may have tuberculosis. | | | | point where the injection was administrated and an |
| Another thing that can not be told after a tuberculin | | | | induration that is smaller that 2 mm means a negative |
| test is the time since the person got infected or if | | | | test. |
| the infection can be passed to other persons. | | | | |