How long after a TB test should redness persist?

Question

I had a TB test done 8 days ago, which was read as negative by the nurse. However, the site is red, irregularly shaped and slightly swollen. The red area is a little more than a centimeter in diameter. Is it possible the nurse misread the test and I have been exposed to TB?

Answer 1

How long after the test was administered was it looked at???
When did the redness appear on what day??
It is possible that what you are looking at is a positive test result.
You should go back to the place that administered the test and let them look at it. They can always test you again in your other arm.
I had this happen to me about 5 yrs ago. My left arm looked like a positive but i suspected that the nurses technique was incorrect.
I was retested on my right arm which was negative.

Answer 2

As an Allergist-Immunologist, I must congratulate the answers' authors to this question of yours..they are all quite excellent and filled with pretty good information..impressive!

BOTTOM LINE: Definitely, enough doubt here to get RE-TESTED in the opposite arm (and of course get THIS arm assessed as to its current appearance at this point in time ASAP!!!)...and I'd recommend NOT just the usual 48 hour reading this time around...but definitely also a 72 hour reading as well!!! Some people do take up to 72 hours to fully react! VERY IMPORTANT to get this resolved so the data and knowledge it provides is accurate and an intelligent decision whether or not to go forward with prophylactic therapy can be made based upon your history of exposure (if any) as well as the re-test results!

GOOD LUCK!!!
P.S. EVEN IF you ARE positive...it only means you were in fact exposed, and only have the potential to be "infected" with the tuberculin organism (Mycobacteria). You have a 10% lifelong risk of developing TB, reduced to <1% after 6-9-12 months (depending on the advice and recommendation of your physician) of therapy. ALSO-depending on your age (and therefore ability to tolerate prophylaxis' side effects, primarily on the liver--this may or may not be recommended in your situation)

Answer 3

Not only possible but probable. I would suggest you go to your local physician and get him/her to check the ppd test results one more time. The site, shape, size, color would indicate to me that your test was positive. Perhaps you should also ask that your physician do a lung xray for you because now that you have probably tested positive you will no longer be allowed to take a simple tb skin test. All positive tests are treated in the same way. One positive test will preclude the skin test and will result in xrays from now on.

Answer 4

Probably not, it may just be a delayed allergic reaction or irritation. If you're worried, get it checked again.