Submitted by the Bedford Board of Health
The Bedford Board of Health will be providing the Tuberculosis (TB) skin test. The testing includes two visits: the first visit to plant the solution and a follow-up visit to check the result. A fee of $25 will be charged to cover the cost of the test. Please call Bedford Board of Health at 781-275-6507 for an appointment.
TB is an infection caused by the TB Bacteria. A skin test, called a Mantoux test, can screen for the condition. A TB screening test may be required for people working with a high risk population (i.e. children and elderly) or people who have lived or had extended travel outside the US, within the past 5 years, to countries with a high prevalence of TB. If you have a positive skin test, it means that you have been exposed to TB germs and a chest x-ray may be ordered by your doctor to be sure that you are not sick with TB disease.
In general, TB can be divided into two different stages: TB infection and TB disease. TB infection is a condition where you have a small number of TB germs living in your body but they are not harming you. Your immune system is keeping them from causing you to be sick. You feel fine and you cannot give transmit TB to anyone. This stage is called latent TB infection. If you have TB infection and your immune system becomes weak, the TB infection can develop into TB disease. TB disease is the form of TB where you have a large number of TB germs living in your body and the germs are causing harm. Usually you feel sick, and you often can spread TB germs to others. TB disease can be found in any part of your body but it usually affects your lungs. The x-ray will be used to confirm it.
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