Why use TB SPUTUM test and not the TB Skin test?

[eros_EX_Plumber 0]

Just wondering if anyone know the answer...

TB Sputum test culture is 2 months...for the results

While the TB skin test you can see if you have been exposed to TB in just 2 days......

Other then SLEC trying to make few extra dollars from the poor souls.....why use one over the other?

maybe some one in the medical field can explain.....

Thanks

[eros_EX_Plumber 0]

Just wondering if anyone know the answer...

TB Sputum test culture is 2 months...for the results

While the TB skin test you can see if you have been exposed to TB in just 2 days......

Other then SLEC trying to make few extra dollars from the poor souls.....why use one over the other?

maybe some one in the medical field can explain.....

Thanks

here is some info from CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

If I read it correctly it have the Skin test to see if been exposed..... and then the Sputum culture to Diagnosis of TB Disease

Persons suspected of having TB disease should be referred for a medical evaluation, which should include a

- Medical history,

- Physical examination,

- Test for TB infection (TB skin test or special blood test),

- Chest radiograph (X-ray), and

- Appropriate bacteriologic or histologic examinations (tests to see if TB bacteria are in the sputum).

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Also there is a vaccination they used in the Philippines for TB that causes false positives on the skin test. So most Filipinos will show a positive with the skin test.

[ryandgracey 2]

Just wondering if anyone know the answer...

TB Sputum test culture is 2 months...for the results

While the TB skin test you can see if you have been exposed to TB in just 2 days......

Other then SLEC trying to make few extra dollars from the poor souls.....why use one over the other?

maybe some one in the medical field can explain.....

Thanks

here is some info from CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

If I read it correctly it have the Skin test to see if been exposed..... and then the Sputum culture to Diagnosis of TB Disease

Persons suspected of having TB disease should be referred for a medical evaluation, which should include a

- Medical history,

- Physical examination,

- Test for TB infection (TB skin test or special blood test),

- Chest radiograph (X-ray), and

- Appropriate bacteriologic or histologic examinations (tests to see if TB bacteria are in the sputum).

Simply because a TB sputum culture is basically the gold standard of determining definite TB activity. The PPD or skin test will give a false positive results, given that all Pinoys get a BCG in infancy.

[eros_EX_Plumber 0]

Just wondering if anyone know the answer...

TB Sputum test culture is 2 months...for the results

While the TB skin test you can see if you have been exposed to TB in just 2 days......

Other then SLEC trying to make few extra dollars from the poor souls.....why use one over the other?

maybe some one in the medical field can explain.....

Thanks

here is some info from CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

If I read it correctly it have the Skin test to see if been exposed..... and then the Sputum culture to Diagnosis of TB Disease

Persons suspected of having TB disease should be referred for a medical evaluation, which should include a

- Medical history,

- Physical examination,

- Test for TB infection (TB skin test or special blood test),

- Chest radiograph (X-ray), and

- Appropriate bacteriologic or histologic examinations (tests to see if TB bacteria are in the sputum).

Simply because a TB sputum culture is basically the gold standard of determining definite TB activity. The PPD or skin test will give a false positive results, given that all Pinoys get a BCG in infancy.

OK...sound like a decent answer but anyhow, it is a time killer for those unfortunate ones that show problems in the XRAYs.....

[hara/eric 0]

Just wondering if anyone know the answer...

TB Sputum test culture is 2 months...for the results

While the TB skin test you can see if you have been exposed to TB in just 2 days......

Other then SLEC trying to make few extra dollars from the poor souls.....why use one over the other?

maybe some one in the medical field can explain.....

Thanks

here is some info from CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

If I read it correctly it have the Skin test to see if been exposed..... and then the Sputum culture to Diagnosis of TB Disease

Persons suspected of having TB disease should be referred for a medical evaluation, which should include a

- Medical history,

- Physical examination,

- Test for TB infection (TB skin test or special blood test),

- Chest radiograph (X-ray), and

- Appropriate bacteriologic or histologic examinations (tests to see if TB bacteria are in the sputum).

Simply because a TB sputum culture is basically the gold standard of determining definite TB activity. The PPD or skin test will give a false positive results, given that all Pinoys get a BCG in infancy.

OK...sound like a decent answer but anyhow, it is a time killer for those unfortunate ones that show problems in the XRAYs.....

yes, BCG will cause a false positive PPD, unless you are one of the rare ones who's immune system never sensitized to the vaccine.. and the TB culture, by standard, is read as "negative" if nothing grows by 42 days... i would assume that any, and i mean any abnormality seen in the lung fields on CXR, would be a knee-jerk reaction to order a sputum culture.. this is because someone with TB that is inactive, may show tiny scarring or nodules. the last thing we need right now is to allow TB carriers into the country , untreated, which would invariably result in a significant rise in hospitalized patients with TB. i pay enuff taxes! let's not give uncle Sam another reason to hike them further. ;p as a side note, in my 6 short years of medicine, i have NEVER managed a patient with known TB. most docs here have to look up how to treat it if they come across it, because they rarely ever see it. however, my older brother went to medical school in PI, and saw it ALL THE TIME as a student. i think that speaks for itself, and says we're doing something right.......... of course, if they throw that sputum culture at MY fiance when it is time, I'll end up throwing a FIT!!! haha ;p

Edited September 19, 2009 by hara/eric

[EricN 0]

Actually the blood test is the best combination of accuracy and quick results. It is what my infectous disease doctor used on me here in the States to determine I was negative. (He by the way is from PH as well!) However, the 3rd world countries cannot afford this method.

I believe the Spetum also gives false positives.

The skin test is accurate, especially for those in the province never immunized to begin with.

My wife tested positive on one of 3 spetum tests. I asked for validation via the blood test, they refused. 6 of her family members living with her all tested negative including her daughter that sleeps beside her. Now we have been delayed what will be a total of 9 months from the day they notified us until the day we will finally get a visa. It sucks esp. for those not from Manila who have to find and pay for a new place to live in Manila.

Just wondering if anyone know the answer...

TB Sputum test culture is 2 months...for the results

While the TB skin test you can see if you have been exposed to TB in just 2 days......

Other then SLEC trying to make few extra dollars from the poor souls.....why use one over the other?

maybe some one in the medical field can explain.....

Thanks

here is some info from CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

If I read it correctly it have the Skin test to see if been exposed..... and then the Sputum culture to Diagnosis of TB Disease

Persons suspected of having TB disease should be referred for a medical evaluation, which should include a

- Medical history,

- Physical examination,

- Test for TB infection (TB skin test or special blood test),

- Chest radiograph (X-ray), and

- Appropriate bacteriologic or histologic examinations (tests to see if TB bacteria are in the sputum).

Simply because a TB sputum culture is basically the gold standard of determining definite TB activity. The PPD or skin test will give a false positive results, given that all Pinoys get a BCG in infancy.

OK...sound like a decent answer but anyhow, it is a time killer for those unfortunate ones that show problems in the XRAYs.....

yes, BCG will cause a false positive PPD, unless you are one of the rare ones who's immune system never sensitized to the vaccine.. and the TB culture, by standard, is read as "negative" if nothing grows by 42 days... i would assume that any, and i mean any abnormality seen in the lung fields on CXR, would be a knee-jerk reaction to order a sputum culture.. this is because someone with TB that is inactive, may show tiny scarring or nodules. the last thing we need right now is to allow TB carriers into the country , untreated, which would invariably result in a significant rise in hospitalized patients with TB. i pay enuff taxes! let's not give uncle Sam another reason to hike them further. ;p as a side note, in my 6 short years of medicine, i have NEVER managed a patient with known TB. most docs here have to look up how to treat it if they come across it, because they rarely ever see it. however, my older brother went to medical school in PI, and saw it ALL THE TIME as a student. i think that speaks for itself, and says we're doing something right.......... of course, if they throw that sputum culture at MY fiance when it is time, I'll end up throwing a FIT!!! haha ;p

[ryandgracey 2]

Actually the blood test is the best combination of accuracy and quick results. It is what my infectous disease doctor used on me here in the States to determine I was negative. (He by the way is from PH as well!) However, the 3rd world countries cannot afford this method.

I believe the Spetum also gives false positives.

The skin test is accurate, especially for those in the province never immunized to begin with.

My wife tested positive on one of 3 spetum tests. I asked for validation via the blood test, they refused. 6 of her family members living with her all tested negative including her daughter that sleeps beside her. Now we have been delayed what will be a total of 9 months from the day they notified us until the day we will finally get a visa. It sucks esp. for those not from Manila who have to find and pay for a new place to live in Manila.

Just wondering if anyone know the answer...

TB Sputum test culture is 2 months...for the results

While the TB skin test you can see if you have been exposed to TB in just 2 days......

Other then SLEC trying to make few extra dollars from the poor souls.....why use one over the other?

maybe some one in the medical field can explain.....

Thanks

here is some info from CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

If I read it correctly it have the Skin test to see if been exposed..... and then the Sputum culture to Diagnosis of TB Disease

Persons suspected of having TB disease should be referred for a medical evaluation, which should include a

- Medical history,

- Physical examination,

- Test for TB infection (TB skin test or special blood test),

- Chest radiograph (X-ray), and

- Appropriate bacteriologic or histologic examinations (tests to see if TB bacteria are in the sputum).

Simply because a TB sputum culture is basically the gold standard of determining definite TB activity. The PPD or skin test will give a false positive results, given that all Pinoys get a BCG in infancy.

OK...sound like a decent answer but anyhow, it is a time killer for those unfortunate ones that show problems in the XRAYs.....

yes, BCG will cause a false positive PPD, unless you are one of the rare ones who's immune system never sensitized to the vaccine.. and the TB culture, by standard, is read as "negative" if nothing grows by 42 days... i would assume that any, and i mean any abnormality seen in the lung fields on CXR, would be a knee-jerk reaction to order a sputum culture.. this is because someone with TB that is inactive, may show tiny scarring or nodules. the last thing we need right now is to allow TB carriers into the country , untreated, which would invariably result in a significant rise in hospitalized patients with TB. i pay enuff taxes! let's not give uncle Sam another reason to hike them further. ;p as a side note, in my 6 short years of medicine, i have NEVER managed a patient with known TB. most docs here have to look up how to treat it if they come across it, because they rarely ever see it. however, my older brother went to medical school in PI, and saw it ALL THE TIME as a student. i think that speaks for itself, and says we're doing something right.......... of course, if they throw that sputum culture at MY fiance when it is time, I'll end up throwing a FIT!!! haha ;p

the thing about the TB bacillus is that it grows really slow. Yes, it sucks but nothing can be done to speed it up. The quantiferron test is the blood test done...yup, it's really expensive, but most accurate.

[tallcoolone 102]

The bigger question, Why have a two day Medical Exam anyways

It's a joke concerning Immigration in the USA

Waste of time, and waste of money

[Tracie1227 0]

Am i to understand that the blood test is not a compulsory part of the medical exam? I have been stressing and stressing over that part as I have a severe phobia to needles and injections. Can someone clarify if the blood test is always done? If it is... i guess i'll have to psych myself up for it

[EricN 0]

Am i to understand that the blood test is not a compulsory part of the medical exam? I have been stressing and stressing over that part as I have a severe phobia to needles and injections. Can someone clarify if the blood test is always done? If it is... i guess i'll have to psych myself up for it

you will not have a blood test. Instead if you are required you will give 3 days of sputum testing and waste 2 extra months for the results...the blood test given here in the US will give you the same conclusion in 2 days.