I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the TB Blood Test. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation. When I was in nursing school, I was working in a local hospital. There were certain tests we had to have done on a yearly basis as per hospital protocol. One of the tests we dreaded was the Tuberculosis (TB) test. The test consists of a small needle that is inserted under the skin of your forearm and a small amount of TB protein (antigens) is injected. Then you wait 2 days to see if you have a reaction, which is a red bump at the injection site, which means you probably been exposed to the TB bacteria.

Let me tell you, that is the longest 2 days! And what made it worse were the false positives you heard stories about. Because the skin test is subjective and open to visual interpretation, you are more likely to get a false positive result. I worked with 2 nurses who had a false positive, which led to further testing, which led to more time off from work.Not only was this test a literal pain, but it was a figurative pain as well. Because you had to wait the 2 days, you would have to drive back to the doctor’s office. I used to complain about the test until I had a patient who had TB and she was just miserable. The coughing alone was enough to make her weak and feel awful. If you are not aware of the facts about Tuberculosis (TB), the diagnosis, testing, and treatment, here are the key points:

• What Causes TB: TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually attacks the lungs, but can attack any part of the body including the kidney, spine, and brain.
• How TB Is Spread: TB is spread through the air from one person to another. If a person with the TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, people nearby could breathe in these bacteria and become infected. Please note not everyone who comes in contact with the bacteria will become infected.
• How TB is NOT Spread: You cannot spread TB by shaking someone’s hand, sharing food or drink, touching bed linens or toilet seats, sharing toothbrushes or kissing.
• Symptoms of TB: Symptoms of the TB disease include any or all of the following: a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or sputum, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats.
• Testing: You can either have the TB skin test like I had or the more accurate TB blood tests. These tests can be given by your health care provider or local health department. If you have a positive reaction to either of the tests, you will be given other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or TB disease.
• Treatment: For latent TB, your doctor may suggest treating you as a precaution. This entails the same treatment you would receive if you test positive for having the TB disease. Your doctor will most likely prescribe several drugs, usually taken for 6 to 9 months. If you stop taking the drugs too soon, you can become sick again. If you do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become resistant to those drugs. TB that is resistant to drugs is harder and more expensive to treat.

If you have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with TB, have a child heading off to college, or have a compromised immune system, you or a loved one may be at risk. TB is especially dangerous to those with compromised immune systems, such as young children or people living with HIV. When back to school time comes, the kids know that means getting their yearly physical. They also know with that comes vaccinations, blood tests and more. Knowing I can take the kids to our pediatrician and get the TB Blood Test gives me peace of mind.

Let me tell you, I wish I had the option to take the TB Blood Test Microsite instead of the TB skin test. This test has been proven more accurate in identifying the infection, especially in children, all in one visit. I don’t want to see my kids go through all the fear and multiple doctor visits to get their TB test. I have a son who has autism and that is a huge issue for me. The TB Blood Test can help diagnose tuberculosis (TB) infection and is a major scientific advance over the 110-year-old skin test like I had, giving greater accuracy and a more reliable result. The TB blood test is the only available method of testing for TB with completely objective results. Because it is the most accurate test for TB infection, only takes a 3ml draw of fresh blood and I only need one visit, I will never be tested for TB any other way than with the TB Blood Test.

What do you think of the TB Blood Test?