What is a tuberculosis (TB) screening?This test checks to see if you have been infected with tuberculosis, commonly known as TB. TB is a serious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs. It can also affect other parts of the body, including the brain, spine, and kidneys. TB is spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing.Not everyone infected with TB gets sick. Some people have an inactive form of the infection called latent TB. When you have latent TB, you don't feel sick and can't spread the disease to others.Many people with latent TB will never feel any symptoms of the disease. But for others, especially those who have or develop weakened immune systems, latent TB can turn into a far more dangerous infection called active TB. If you have active TB, you may feel very sick. You may also spread the disease to other people. Without treatment, active TB can cause serious illness or even death.There are two types of TB tests used for screening: a TB skin test and a TB blood test. These tests can show if you have ever been infected with TB. They don't show if you have a latent or active TB infection. More tests will be needed to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.Other names: TB test, TB skin test, PPD test, IGRA test
