Tuberculosis screening

Tuberculosis (TB) screening involves testing individuals to detect if they have a TB infection, even if they don’t show symptoms. The most common test is the TB skin test, where a small amount of fluid is injected under the skin, and the site is checked after 48-72 hours for a reaction indicating possible infection. There’s also a blood test called an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). Screening helps identify latent TB infections that could become active if untreated, allowing for early intervention and reducing transmission to others.