I took my PPD test..results PPD+ 15 mm.. does this mean i have TB DISEASE?

Question

i went to the clinic friday to take the PPD skin exam. I went to get my results today( monday) and the results was PPD + 15 MM, and it referred me to take a Chest X-RAY... Do this mean i have a high risk of having TB?

Answer 1

A positive PPD (which is what a 15 mm PPD result is) means that you've been EXPOSED to TB. It doesn't mean that you have the active disease. In fact, the vast majority of people with a positive PPD do not have active disease.

If your doctor suspected that you had active disease (e.g. if you had cough, night sweats, weight loss, etc.), she'd probably have mentioned this fact to you and arranged for you to have tests done on your sputum. The fact that she only referred you for a chest xray SUGGESTS that she doesn't think you have active TB but she wants a screening test to be sure.

If the chest xray comes back negative, she'll probably sit down with you and talk about the possibility of taking an antibiotic called INH for several months. This is done because folks who've been exposed to TB have a low but measurable risk of developing active disease years on down the road. Taking INH for several months reduces this risk considerably.

Answer 2

The chest x ray will tell you if you have TB. There have been cases of false positives with mantoux solutions. Your doctor may want you to repeat the test using a different lot of PPD. Once positive they say to never have the PPD again d/t risk of developing a necrotic wound. But in my case the health department recommended repeating the test and mine was negative the second time around. Talk to your doctor. It is treatable if it is positive the second time. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

I had a positive PPD but my chest x ray was clear. I didn't have TB. Have you been exposed if you have I'd get it repeated.