Tuberculin, purified protein derivative (PPD) is a substance that's used to detect exposure to tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculin helps detect this infection by causing a mild reaction in people who have been infected with TB. Tuberculin is given as an injection by a healthcare professional at a hospital, clinic or doctor's office. This liquid will be injected under the skin, usually on the forearm. The results will be apparent within 48 to 72 hours. If you develop a hardened bump on your skin at the injection site, you may have tuberculosis. Even if you do not develop a reaction, it is important to go to your follow-up appointment to have your results evaluated by a professional because you may need a second test. Usually, TB testing is recommended for people who have been exposed to tuberculosis or who are at high risk for tuberculosis. These people include: those with HIV, those who are from, or have visited, a country where tuberculosis is common (the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Asia and Russia), those who live in a place in the United States where tuberculosis may be passed easily (prison, some nursing homes, homeless shelters) and those who inject illegal drugs. Various brands of tuberculin PPD are available, including Tubersol and Aplisol. Talk to your doctor to determine whether tuberculosis testing with tuberculin PPD is appropriate for you.
Tuberculin
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredYou should know that you will need to return to the doctors office in 48 to 72 hours after injection in order to have the results of the test evaluated. You should be aware of some medical conditions and medications that may interact with this substance. If you're allergic to any ingredient in tuberculin PPD (purified protein derivative) or if you've had a severe reaction to it in the past, you should not receive it. Before using tuberculin PPD, you should tell your doctor if you've recently received a live vaccine (such as the measles or flu) or if you have a viral or bacterial infection. People with cancer and severe protein deficiencies also should talk to their doctor before receiving tuberculin. Also, if you know you have active tuberculosis or have had tuberculosis in the past, talk to your doctor before using tuberculin. It may have harmful effects on a developing fetus, so women who are pregnant should talk to their doctor before getting tested for tuberculosis. Tuberculin PPD may interact with certain medications, especially immunosuppressives (such as cyclosporine or cancer medications), corticosteroids (such as prednisone) and live vaccines. Other medications not listed here also may interact with tuberculin, so make sure to discuss all of the medications and supplements with your doctor before getting tested with tuberculin PPD.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredIf you have ever had a positive reaction to a tuberculin test in the past, check with your doctor, as this could cause a serious reaction to the Tubersol injection. Before receiving Tubersol, also talk to your doctor about any allergic reactions you have had to this or other medications. Also, discuss any other allergies with your doctor. While children are expected to react similarly to adults given Tubersol, older people may take longer to show a skin reaction. Some people have very mild reactions, and the doctor may request repeated testing in these cases. Other people may have no significant reaction to the test and still have a tuberculosis infection. This includes people with immune system deficiency disorders, such as HIV, and people with viral or bacterial infections. Tubersol has not been proved safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, to discuss the risks and benefits of receiving Tubersol.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSpecific interactions between Tubersol and other medications or foods are not expected. However, interactions are still possible. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) administration may result in a positive tuberculin test. Corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs may suppress reactivity to any tuberculin test. Recent immunizations with live virus vaccines (including influenza, the measles, mumps, rubella, polio virus, smallpox, yellow fever) may also depress the tuberculin test. If tuberculin skin testing is indicated, perform it either before or simultaneously at a separate site or four to six weeks after immunization. Always talk to your doctor about any prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, supplements or vitamins you are taking.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredTubersol is a prescription solution that is injected just under the skin to test for tuberculosis infection. The solution contains tuberculin, purified protein derivative (PPD) which will prompt a specific skin reaction in people who have been infected. After 48 to 72 hours, the doctor examines the skin for a reaction. A positive test indicates probable infection with mycobacterium tuberculosis, either currently or in the past. It is administered by a health care provider.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSide effects that might occur with a Tubersol injection include: redness at the injection site, pain and sores near the injection site. These effects do not normally require your doctor's attention and may diminish over time. Rarely, more serious side effects are reported. These include: blisters, peeling of the skin, loosening of the skin, extreme redness, skin rash or itchiness. If you experience these or additional side effects, contact your doctor.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredPeople with allergies to Tubersol or any of its ingredients should not receive Tubersol injections. Also, people who have had a serious reaction to previous Tubersol injections should avoid further exposure. People who previously have had a positive result from a tuberculosis test should talk with their doctor to decide if another test is warranted, as serious skin reactions can occur.
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSome people may have an allergic reaction to tuberculin PPD (purified protein derivative), causing symptoms such as hives, swelling in the face or throat and difficulty breathing. Get emergency medical treatment if you experience any of those symptoms. Other serious side effects of tuberculin may include respiratory problems or blisters or sores on the skin. More common side effects of tuberculin may include itching or pain at the injection site. Other side effects may occur, so talk to your doctor if you develop any unusual symptoms after receiving tuberculin.
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RealAge answeredA tuberculin skin test is a medical test to determine if someone has been infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A tuberculosis infection affects the lungs, causing a long-lasting bad cough that might include coughing up blood and/or mucus, as well as a fever, loss of appetite and weight, weakness and fatigue and other symptoms. If left untreated, tuberculosis can be deadly.
The tuberculin skin test, also known as a PPD skin test, requires two office visits to your doctor. In the first visit, your doctor will inject a small amount of a harmless liquid that contains purified protein derivative or PPD under the skin of your arm, using a very small gauge needle. Your doctor will ask you to return to the office in two to three days. During this second visit, your doctor will examine your arm to see how you reacted to the injection. If there is no change in your arm area, or only mild swelling, the test is negative; it is very unlikely that you have tuberculosis.
If you have a round, swollen, red lesion at the site of the injection, your doctor will measure it. If the lesion is 15 mm in diameter or greater, you have tested positive for tuberculosis. A measurement of 5 mm can also be determined to be positive in certain people who have serious conditions that weaken their immune system; a measurement of 10 mm is positive in young children, health care workers, or certain other subsets of the population. A measurement of 15 mm is positive in anyone.
A tuberculin skin test is not recommended as a screening test for the general population but may be recommended in certain people including:- people who show signs of a possible tuberculosis infection
- people from out of the country who come from an area where tuberculosis is prevalent
- health care workers
- anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has tuberculosis
- people with compromised, weak immune systems (such as someone who has HIV/AIDS)
- people who inject illicit drugs