BCG vaccination and TB skin test

[LA80 3]

The reason I put this topic here I am supposed to get the test after I had immigrated (they require it at work). I have read that false positive results may occur in people who have been vaccinated with BCG (BCG is obligatory in my country). Before I immigrated, I had to take an x-ray as a par of the medical exam, but no one ever mentioned TB skin test.

Does anybody have experience with this and had previously been vaccinated with BCG? Should I mention this to the doctor? Should I take my x-ray just in case?

[kaffy 2]

Ask your work if they can do a Quantiferon Gold blood test instead of the skin test. I too had to get tested for work and the nurse said the blood test this is not affected by the BCG vaccination (which I had when I was a baby).

[LA80 3]

Ask your work if they can do a Quantiferon Gold blood test instead of the skin test. I too had to get tested for work and the nurse said the blood test this is not affected by the BCG vaccination (which I had when I was a baby).

I will let them know. Thanks a lot kaffy. Will have to tell my boss about it first thing in the morning.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

The skin test may indeed show a false positive (not all the time). Many people here- even health care professionals- are not familiar with the BCG and its effects on the TB skin test, so you may want to print something out to bring along, something like this: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/tbfactsheets/BCG.htm

[mkg265 2]

The skin test may indeed show a false positive (not all the time). Many people here- even health care professionals- are not familiar with the BCG and its effects on the TB skin test, so you may want to print something out to bring along, something like this: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/tbfactsheets/BCG.htm

You beat me to it! I was going to post something from the cdc site!

My sister works for the CDC in Atlanta and has warned me that people from the Balkans often have false positive skin TB tests. She also said to cut fresh milk consumption down before the test. That may only apply to people still in the Balkans though....

[LA80 3]

As I can recall, I received BCG three times, once as a baby, second time when I was 7 after the skin test and last time when I was 13. I kinda hope, since 15 years have passed, that BCG will not influence my results. Testing is tomorrow morning around 10, I will let them know I got BCG (show the scars if I have to), bring my last x-ray, and hopefully someone will know what I am talking about.

Let's say I am positive, do you know what happens then?

[kaffy 2]

(False) positive skin tests are usually followed up with a chest x-ray (which you've already had). Bring the film & report and you should be fine.

[Welshcookie 17]

The USAF insisted I had a skin test done before my husband married me although I told them it would come back positive because of the BCG......and it did. Then they wanted me to take medication for 9 months....yehhhh...no.

[LA80 3]

The USAF insisted I had a skin test done before my husband married me although I told them it would come back positive because of the BCG......and it did. Then they wanted me to take medication for 9 months....yehhhh...no.

that makes me mad. it seems that false positive results are not so rare due to BCG after all. they should know some things better, they really should.

well, I will try what kaffy told me.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Most people from a European country will have had a BCG vaccination as a child so it is not that uncommon to get a false positive. My late wife had this happen and she had to have an x-ray done.

[kaffy 2]

well, I will try what kaffy told me.

Good luck! It was really the quickest & easiest way for me. Here is a link to some info regarding the test: http://www.cdc.gov/TB/pubs/tbfactsheets/qft.htm

Any nurse/doctor who knows what they are doing should know about it

[milimelo 4,481]

It will be a false positive. My sister who is on F1 visa had to take the skin test and afterwards chest x-ray - even though she told them she had the BCG vaccine.

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

Good luck! I had my BCG about 15 years ago, but got a negative skin test, so maybe you'll get lucky too!

[~*Maria*~ 1]

I too had the TB skin test done and had a "false positive" result. Negative X-Ray. I had been vaccinated with the BCG vaccine when i was 3 mos old. Here's the kicker........... my pulmonologist told me about a month ago that the BCG vaccine only has a life span of 15-20 yrs. I had the BCG 43 years ago.

March 18th he wants to re-test me and if this time it still comes back showing a "positive" result, then i am to be started on INH treatment for 1 year.

He told me that due to my godmother coming into contact with someone with TB, then its most likely i have LTBI, although inactive, due to me being on steriods for 4 months my immune system has been weakened considerably. Therefore my lung specialist does not want to take any chances with my lungs due to now having Interstitial Lung Disease.

P.s My lung specialist is from UK, now working in the local hospital here.

Edited March 3, 2009 by Maria~n~Dane

[~*Maria*~ 1]

duhhh almost forgot more recent chest x-rays done over the past 6 months show linear opacities (scarring) in the lungs. My godmother died 3 years ago of lung disease.