Tuberculosis (TB) Screening | Cigna (2024)

FAQs

What is the screening test for TB? ›

There are a number of ways to screen for TB and decide to do further testing. These consist of symptom screens, chest radiography (chest X-ray or CXR), and molecular WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests (mWRDs) such as Xpert MTB/RIF® and Truenat® on sputum.

A “positive” TB blood test result means you probably have TB germs in your body. Most people with a positive TB blood test have latent TB infection. To be sure, your doctor will examine you and do a chest x-ray. You may need other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or active TB disease.

Among adults and adolescents living with HIV, systematic screening for TB disease should be conducted using the WHO-recommended four symptom screen and those who report any one of the symptoms of current cough, fever, weight loss or night sweats may have TB and should be evaluated for TB and other diseases.

Annual TB testing using an IGRA or TST is not routinely recommended. Healthcare facilities should perform TB testing and complete a signs and symptoms assessment after known or ongoing exposure to TB or complete a signs and symptoms assessment annually for HCPs with untreated TB infection.

Please answer the following questions:

Have you ever had a positive TB skin test? Have you ever had close contact with anyone who was sick with TB? Have you ever been vaccinated with BCG? * The significance of the travel exposure should be discussed with a health care provider and evaluated.

There are two types of tests for tuberculosis (TB) infection: the TB blood test and the TB skin test. A positive test result for TB infection means you have TB germs in your body.

Although it is spread in a similar way to a cold or the flu, TB is not as contagious. You would usually have to spend prolonged periods in close contact with an infected person to catch the infection yourself. For example, TB infections usually spread between family members who live in the same house.

Active, drug-sensitive TB disease is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer. The vast majority of TB cases can be cured when medicines are provided and taken properly.

Can you have TB and not know it? ›

Tuberculosis (TB) germs can live in the body for years without making you sick. This is called inactive TB or latent TB infection. People with inactive TB do not feel sick, do not have symptoms, and cannot spread TB germs to others.

The first stage is called the primary infection. Immune system cells find and capture the germs. The immune system may completely destroy the germs. But some captured germs may still survive and multiply.

The study by an international team of scientists, which aimed to explore the prevalence of subclinical pulmonary TB, found that more than 80% of TB patients in 12 high-burden countries in Asia and Africa did not have a persistent cough, while more than 60% had no cough at all.

RESULTS: We found 12 studies with TB-specific mortality data. Ten-year survival was 69% in North America (95% CI 54–81) and 36% in Europe (95% CI 10–71). Only 38% (95% CI 18–63) of non-sanitorium individuals survived to 10 years compared to 69% (95% CI 41–87) of sanitoria/hospitalized patients.

There are currently two methods for detecting tuberculosis infection: The Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) and an Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test. Patients must be carefully assessed for risk factors PRIOR to administration of either test.

Tuberculin skin tests (TST) are administered to detect the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). The terms Mantoux, TB skin test, tuberculin skin test, and PPDs are often used interchangeably. Mantoux refers to the technique for administering the test.

Diagnosis for the majority of patients worldwide suspected of TB is still made by sputum smear microscopy for acid-fast bacilli. The test, which was developed 100 years ago by Franz Ziehl and Frederick Neelsen, is inexpensive, simple, rapid and specific but is only positive in around half of patients with active TB.

QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) is the world's leading TB blood test (IGRA). It's the simpler, more affordable way to test for TB infection, producing more accurate results than the century-old TST. Here are the major differences between the two: QFT-Plus has >94% sensitivity and >97% specificity.