TB - PPD Skin (Tuberculosis) Testing South Carolina

FIRST: What is Tuberculosis? - (TB) is a bacterial infection that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings. The TB bacteria can remain airborne for several hours, and those who inhale the bacteria can become infected. This initial stage is called latent TB infection, where the person harbors the bacteria but does not show symptoms because the bacteria are inactive.

If you need TB testing in South Carolina, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves two types of TB blood tests: 

1) QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) and the T-SPOT®. TB test (T-Spot). These TB blood tests, known as Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs), are more specific than the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and less likely to produce false positives. Additionally, TB blood tests in SC require only one visit to a healthcare provider.

2) The Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), or Mantoux test, is another method for TB testing in South Carolina. This test involves injecting a small amount of tuberculin fluid into the skin of the lower arm. If you are looking for PPD skin tests in Columbia, SC, this method is widely available and we do them at our two convenient offices in the Columbia SC area. The TST requires at least two visits to a healthcare provider, potentially extending to four visits over a 10 to 21-day period. During the follow-up visit, a healthcare worker checks for a reaction at the injection site. Firm swelling and redness may indicate a TB infection. If the patient does not return within 72 hours, the test must be repeated.

PPD Testing - PPD stands for purified protein derivative. The positive immunologic response to PPD antigen. Other commonly used terms include the Mantoux test, a.k.a TB skin test, and PPDs. The PPD test in South Carolina measures the immune system's response to the PPD solution, which contains a protein derived from the bacteria that causes TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If a person has been exposed to TB bacteria, their skin will react to the antigens by developing a firm, red bump at the injection site within three days. A healthcare worker will then measure the bump or swelling and determine if the skin test reaction is positive or negative.