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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Area Of Skin Test For TB Red And Raised, Burns, TB Test Negative. What's The Reason ?

Hi, I ve had a tb test done a total of about four times in the past and every time I get it read it there is never even a mark. However, I got the skin test yesterday and I noticed when I got home from work last night it was red, like the size of a pencil eraser, but not hard or raised. This morning when I woke up the the Reddness is larger than last night. Now it is about the size of a dime, it s flat and isn t raided but it kinda burns. I m wondering if I could be positive since with my previous tests there wasn t ever a mark.
Wed, 6 Feb 2013
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM.

Thank you for your query.

A positive Mantoux test (skin test for TB) is:
1. If above 5 mm in individuals:
-HIV positive person
-Recent contact with TB infected person
-Immunosuppressed patients
-With x-ray changes or old TB

2. If above 10 mm:
-Injection drug users
-Travel from high-prevalence countries (less than 5 years)
-Lab personal
-Employed or residing in areas with high-prevalence
-Other risk factors present (diabetes, immunosuppressed, terminal stage diseases, malnutrition, etc.)
-Children less than 4 years of ago

3. More than 15 mm:
-No previous risk factors of TB

If positive, you will also have to rule out a false-positive result.

I hope I have succeeded in answering your questions, you could write back to me anytime for further clarifications.

Best wishes.
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Area Of Skin Test For TB Red And Raised, Burns, TB Test Negative. What's The Reason ?

Hello and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your query. A positive Mantoux test (skin test for TB) is: 1. If above 5 mm in individuals: -HIV positive person -Recent contact with TB infected person -Immunosuppressed patients -With x-ray changes or old TB 2. If above 10 mm: -Injection drug users -Travel from high-prevalence countries (less than 5 years) -Lab personal -Employed or residing in areas with high-prevalence -Other risk factors present (diabetes, immunosuppressed, terminal stage diseases, malnutrition, etc.) -Children less than 4 years of ago 3. More than 15 mm: -No previous risk factors of TB If positive, you will also have to rule out a false-positive result. I hope I have succeeded in answering your questions, you could write back to me anytime for further clarifications. Best wishes.