Question 1

i'm just wondering, if you test positive for tb does that automatically mean you have it?

Accepted Answer

Exposure not disease: A positive TB test indicates past exposure to the bug that causes tb. Whether you have active TB disease or not depends on whether you are symptomatic or have signs of TB disease on chest xray or other appropriate tests based on your symptoms. Those that only have a positive TB test but none of the above have latent tb. Talk to your doctor who can do additional tests to figure out if you have tb.

Question 2

what does a positive tb test mean?

Accepted Answer

Chest X ray: It is possible to have active TB with very little symptoms especially early on. However, it is more than likely that you carry the germ for TB in a dormant form, this is called latent tb. No symptoms are expected with latent tb.

Question 3

when you get a tb test and no bubble pops up does that mean its negative?

Accepted Answer

Yes: If there is no raised area which measures at least 5 mm in diameter the test should be considered negative.

Question 4

my 17yr old son was positive for tb and has been put on medicine for 12 weeks what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Latent TB infection: If your son had a positive TB skin test or positive quantiferon result plus a normal chest xray - he has a latent TB infection.  Isoniazid is given daily for 6 to 9 months. Likely your son is in the first 12 weeks out of 6 to 9 months of treatment. The medication is given to keep TB from becoming an active full blown infection.  He cannot transmit TB to anyone else if he has a latent infection.

Question 5

every time i have a xray always show that. stable residual changes both upper lubes. what is this means? i was treated 12 years ago from my tb

Accepted Answer

Basically: means that it shows signs of your prior TB infection which led to some scarring.  Give it is 'stable' means there are no changes seen from prior.

Question 6

what does it mean to have latent tb infection (ltbi)?

Accepted Answer

Dormant: It means that the person carries the bacteria that cause TB in a dormant stage, typically no symptoms are noted, and it is a non contagious state. In contrast, when TB is active, there is a raging fight with TB having the upper hand, several symptoms are noted, the person is usually coughing and transmitting the disease.

Question 7

what is a borderline chest xray for tb mean?

Accepted Answer

TB on CXR. : That could mean that, in isolation, the findings on the Xray image could be consistent with those found typically with TB. But X-rays like these are not to be interpreted in isolation. Your clinical presentation and results of other testing would be important as well.

Question 8

what can a 1+ mean on an afb test for tb?

Accepted Answer

Contagious: This is smear positive with the microscope.
The range is 0 to 4+.

It indicates a large amount of bacilli.

A patient like this can infect other people.

Question 9

if i have a positive tb skin test, does that mean i have tb?

Accepted Answer

POSITIVE TB TEST: It does not tell you if TB is active or not. Next step is chest x-ray to show the infiltrates if positive for infection.

Question 10

if you have a positive tuberculosis skin test does that mean latent or active tb?

Accepted Answer

Need chest X-ray: Positive TB skin test simply means tested person was exposed to an active case of tb.  If the person remains asymptomatic with negative chest x-ray, he (she) has a latent tb.

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Doctor answers about:

What does inconclusive tb mean

A member asked:

I'm just wondering, if you test positive for tb does that automatically mean you have it?

A member asked:

What does a positive tb test mean?

A member asked:

When you get a tb test and no bubble pops up does that mean its negative?

A member asked:

My 17yr old son was positive for tb and has been put on medicine for 12 weeks what does this mean?

A member asked:

Every time i have a xray always show that. stable residual changes both upper lubes. what is this means? i was treated 12 years ago from my tb

A member asked:

What does it mean to have latent tb infection (ltbi)?

A member asked:

What is a borderline chest xray for tb mean?

A member asked:

What can a 1+ mean on an afb test for tb?

A member asked:

If i have a positive tb skin test, does that mean i have tb?

A member asked:

If you have a positive tuberculosis skin test does that mean latent or active tb?

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