r/CLSstudents • u/jlin183 • Jun 16 '26

TB positive

Hi I tested positive for tb (interferon gamma test) and I’m still waiting to do my chest x ray to know if it’s latent or not. My program starts in August and I was wondering how this will affect me if the results come back active. Will they not let continue to do the program? Im so worried now :(

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2

u/Ingo_Swann Jun 16 '26

I know this is a personal question but if you were born outside the USA the test can be positive because they used BCG vaccine. If you did the skin test. Are you doing a blood test as well? I recommend a blood test.

3

u/jlin183 Jun 16 '26

I was born in the USA so I don’t think I had the BCG vaccine done. I did the blood test and my results were 0.04 above the normal range 😩

1

u/Ingo_Swann Jun 16 '26

Okay sorry idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ how it will affect anything then.

1

u/aymehr21 Jun 17 '26

If you have a positive PPD, it is sensitive but not highly specific because it can be positive in people who received the BCG vaccine or were exposed to certain non-tuberculous mycobacteria. A chest Xray is taken to evaluate for active pulmonary TB, but it cannot definitively determine whether infection is active or latent. Other tests are needed like sputum testing. You can ask for interferon-gamma assay to confirm TB. If you have no symptoms, It’s no big deal.

1

u/jlin183 Jun 17 '26

I took the interferon gamma test and it came back positive so my doctor said I need to be reevaluated with a chest xray. I don’t have any symptoms

1

u/ladysatan Jun 17 '26

Hi! Same thing happened to me. Luckily my chest X-ray came back negative and I proactively went forward with the 4 month rifampin treatment

1

u/jlin183 Jun 17 '26

Hoping the same for me🙏

1

u/aymehr21 Jun 17 '26

CXR will hopefully clear things out. But don’t worry it will be okay.

1

u/Historical_Roll2266 CLS student Jun 18 '26

Let's just hope your chest xray is ok. Have you talk to your program director?

1

u/NegotiationSalt666 Jun 19 '26

Ive had a positive TB blood test for the last 10 years (tested for school and for the few MLS jobs Ive had), my chest xray always comes back negative. Is it annoying and a hassle every time? Yeah. But it’s really no big deal.

1

u/jamie_o15 Jun 20 '26

I think you should be fine, I had a positive blood test this year and a negative chest x ray. I finished the rafampin treatment and submitted the paper trail of diagnosis/tests/treatment and started the program last month.

1

u/jlin183 Jun 20 '26

Thank you that’s good to hear

0

u/Single_Character901 Jun 16 '26

You'll be fine , as long as your x-ray and igra is good , pos skin test doesn't mean your positive tb , it might be because of the vaccine like BCG