Can you test positive for TB but not have it?

 Can you test positive for TB but not have it?

Persons with latent TB infection (LTBI) do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms, but usually have a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test or TB blood test. They are infected with TB bacteria, but do not have TB disease. Persons with LTBI are not infectious and cannot spread TB infection to others.

Will latent TB show up on xray?

Will latent TB show up on xray?

Image result for quantiferon gold positive but negative chest x-ray

Chest Radiograph

Lesions may appear anywhere in the lungs and may differ in size, shape, density, and cavitation. These abnormalities may suggest TB, but cannot be used to definitively diagnose TB.Apr 18, 2016

What can cause a false positive QuantiFERON gold?

 What can cause a false positive QuantiFERON gold?

(1) False-positive results may occur in patients with prior infection with M marinum, M szulgai, or M kansasii. Negative: No IFN-gamma response to M tuberculosis antigens was detected

You Could Have TB

 A person has latent TB infection if they have a positive TB skin test and a normal (negative) chest x-ray. This means the person has breathed in the TB germs, but his or her body has been able to fight the germs. People with latent TB infection do not feel sick and do not have signs of TB disease.

copy from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/infectioncontrol/TBhealthCareSettings.htm 

TB Infection Control in Health Care Settings

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A tuberculosis (TB) infection control plan is part of a general infection control program designed to ensure the following:

• prompt detection of infectious TB patients,
• airborne precautions, and
• treatment of people who have suspected or confirmed TB disease.

In all health care settings, particularly those in which people are at high risk for exposure to TB, policies and procedures for TB control should be developed, reviewed periodically, and evaluated for effectiveness to determine the actions necessary to minimize the risk for transmission of TB.

The TB infection control program should be based on a three-level hierarchy of control measures and include:

1. Administrative measures
2. Environmental controls
3. Use of respiratory protective equipment

On May 17, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Associationexternal icon (NTCA) released updated recommendations on the frequency of TB screening, testing, and treatment for health care personnel.  For guidance on facility risk assessments and infection control practices please continue to refer to the Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings, 2005.

• Administrative Measures
• Environmental Controls
• Respiratory Protective Equipment

Administrative controls are the first and most important level of the hierarchy.  These are management measures that are intended to reduce the risk or exposure to persons with infectious TB.  These control measures consist of the following activities:

• Assigning someone the responsibility for TB infection control in the health care setting;
• Conducting a TB risk assessment of the setting;
• Developing and implementing a written TB infection-control plan;
• Ensuring the availability of recommended laboratory processing, testing, and reporting of results;
• Implementing effective work practices for managing patients who may have TB disease;
• Ensuring proper cleaning, sterilization, or disinfection of equipment that might be contaminated (e.g., endoscopes);
• Educating, training, and counseling health care personnel, patients, and visitors about TB infection and TB disease;
• Screening, testing, and evaluating personnel who are at risk for exposure to TB disease;
• Applying epidemiology-based prevention principles, including the use of setting-related TB infection-control data;
• Using posters and signs to remind patients and staff of proper cough etiquette (covering mouth when coughing) and respiratory hygiene; and
• Coordinating efforts between local or state health departments and high-risk health-care and congregate settings.

Page last reviewed: May 14, 2019

Content source: Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention