tb skin test positive

[citlembik 0]

HI there,

I was positive with PPD too. Relax and don't panic. I had BCG vaccine as well.

I've read all throughout your post..you said you have been given a BCG vaccine twice last 1998 & 2000,right? A BCG vaccine is a vaccine against tuberculosis. I was told by my doctor its 80% effective in preventing tuberculosis for a duration of 15 years. a BCG vaccine may cause a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test (TST). A positive test result DOES NOT mean you have TB. It means you have been subjected to the organism that can cause TB. More test should be done in order to affirm the positive result. That is why you need a chest X-ray. That was September when I found out I was positive with PPD, I took another Xray here in the US even I had my Xray 3 months before that in my home country. It was Negative. I took another test, QuantiFeron Test.. this test.. a whole blood test for use as an aid in diagnosing MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS infection including LATENT TB and TUBERCULOSIS DISEASE. Advantages on it :

Advantages of the QuantiFeron Test compared to PPD test..

--not subject to reader bias that can occur with TST

--not affected by prior BCG vaccine -- PPD is affected with it.

--does not boost responses measured by subsequent test, which can happen with tuberculin skin test (TST)

Actually a positive reaction requires 15mm that is according to my research, my doctor and the Civil Surgeon affirms that only if there is no known risk of the disease and since Philippines is known high risk of this disease, 13mm is considered to be positive. More test should be given in order to affirm the positive test. My QuantiFeron Test is Negative.

SO I am clear.

I advice you to take another chest Xray. If it shows the same as your Xray taken last August then your clear. Its up to you if you want to take the QuantiFeron test.. it was expensive but worth it. I think you can also get it in your health department for free. If they will require you to take medicine you have the right to refused it as what the above poster said..plus the effect of medicine bugs your ears and liver in a long run.

Good luck to you!

Vida Taylor

ahamm..oke.Why did you take the blood test if you had the right to refuse the treatment?

anyways...so my case will be class B right?and what the civil surgeon should write at remarks at part 2 chest X-ray reaction?should check class B,tb latent?and then write what at the remarks?

thank a lot!

[citlembik 0]

HI there,

I was positive with PPD too. Relax and don't panic. I had BCG vaccine as well.

I've read all throughout your post..you said you have been given a BCG vaccine twice last 1998 & 2000,right? A BCG vaccine is a vaccine against tuberculosis. I was told by my doctor its 80% effective in preventing tuberculosis for a duration of 15 years. a BCG vaccine may cause a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test (TST). A positive test result DOES NOT mean you have TB. It means you have been subjected to the organism that can cause TB. More test should be done in order to affirm the positive result. That is why you need a chest X-ray. That was September when I found out I was positive with PPD, I took another Xray here in the US even I had my Xray 3 months before that in my home country. It was Negative. I took another test, QuantiFeron Test.. this test.. a whole blood test for use as an aid in diagnosing MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS infection including LATENT TB and TUBERCULOSIS DISEASE. Advantages on it :

Advantages of the QuantiFeron Test compared to PPD test..

--not subject to reader bias that can occur with TST

--not affected by prior BCG vaccine -- PPD is affected with it.

--does not boost responses measured by subsequent test, which can happen with tuberculin skin test (TST)

Actually a positive reaction requires 15mm that is according to my research, my doctor and the Civil Surgeon affirms that only if there is no known risk of the disease and since Philippines is known high risk of this disease, 13mm is considered to be positive. More test should be given in order to affirm the positive test. My QuantiFeron Test is Negative.

SO I am clear.

I advice you to take another chest Xray. If it shows the same as your Xray taken last August then your clear. Its up to you if you want to take the QuantiFeron test.. it was expensive but worth it. I think you can also get it in your health department for free. If they will require you to take medicine you have the right to refused it as what the above poster said..plus the effect of medicine bugs your ears and liver in a long run.

Good luck to you!

Vida Taylor

ahamm..oke.Why did you take the blood test if you had the right to refuse the treatment?

anyways...so my case will be class B right?and what the civil surgeon should write at remarks at part 2 chest X-ray reaction?should check class B,tb latent?and then write what at the remarks?

thank a lot!

I mean reallt thanks a lot!your post was very clear for me...

[map1map 3]

ahamm..oke.Why did you take the blood test if you had the right to refuse the treatment?

anyways...so my case will be class B right?and what the civil surgeon should write at remarks at part 2 chest X-ray reaction?should check class B,tb latent?and then write what at the remarks?

thank a lot!

Not necessarily. On my I693 form it states nothing about my positive reaction being class A or B or anything else, other than the dimension of the skin reaction and the fact that I started treatment. Ask the physician to give you a copy of the form (it is your right).

[citlembik 0]

ahamm..oke.Why did you take the blood test if you had the right to refuse the treatment?

anyways...so my case will be class B right?and what the civil surgeon should write at remarks at part 2 chest X-ray reaction?should check class B,tb latent?and then write what at the remarks?

thank a lot!

Not necessarily. On my I693 form it states nothing about my positive reaction being class A or B or anything else, other than the dimension of the skin reaction and the fact that I started treatment. Ask the physician to give you a copy of the form (it is your right).

I was today at the pulmonologist and she said :one more X-ray_blood tests.Tomorrow I'll do the bllod tests.On Thursday I'll have all the results.

I'll let you know about the rest...

I just wanna say that this doctor said she will make a letter to the CS and she will also fill part 4 in I-693.

I think she will say I;m clear because when I told her about BCG,..she said the reaction is normal and she said not to let anyone again to do to me the TST .,caz the reaction will be even "more"positive..

My opinion is that even if CDC doesn't take in consideration BCG a specialist considers its effects...if we don;t come from a high-risk country and the other tests are negative...

Thank you guys!!!I hope everything will go right from now on..

Good luck to everyone!

[vichygurl 1]

ahamm..oke.Why did you take the blood test if you had the right to refuse the treatment?

anyways...so my case will be class B right?and what the civil surgeon should write at remarks at part 2 chest X-ray reaction?should check class B,tb latent?and then write what at the remarks?

thank a lot!

I didn't refused the treatment. I took it for 2 months... it was my doctor who told me to stop it after having the QuanteFeron test result because that goes to show I am clear even Latent TB. I was already complaining that time about the side effect. I took the QuanteFeron test at a later date..

The civil surgeon didn't put anything or remarks with regards to the TST shot.

Vida Taylor

Edited January 14, 2009 by blukiss24