TB testing – for a world free of tuberculosis

What is TB? 

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious airborne disease. It primarily affects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body. TB is caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.

Latent TB infection (LTBI) occurs when a person is infected with TB bacteria but does not have TB disease. People with latent TB infection do not feel sick, but can potentially develop active TB disease. 

A person with active pulmonary TB is contagious. Symptoms of TB disease include chronic cough, fever, weight loss and night sweats. TB kills about 1.4 million people each year worldwide (1).

What is a TB test? 

A TB test detects tuberculosis infection, either active or latent. Common TB test methods include a tuberculin skin test (TST) or a TB blood test like QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus.

What is a TB blood test? 

A TB blood test, like QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus, measures the immune system’s response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to determine if TB infection is likely. A blood test provides an accurate result without requiring multiple visits like the skin test

Who is at risk for TB?

Anyone can be infected with TB. However, the US CDC and the WHO have identified key groups who are at an increased risk for TB infection and disease progression (1, 2):  

• Biologics and TNF-a recipients

• People who are immunocompromised

• Migrants from high-TB-burden countries

• Young children

• Healthcare workers

• Students

• People living or working close together

• People living in long-term care