A 40 year old patient was seen in the walk in urgent care in Orlando for immigration physical. Dr. Jain performed the physical and gave a TB test for checking for TB required for the immigration physical. The test was checked in 48 hours. The area where TB test was given was red and swollen about 14 mm. The patient was from China and the TB test is usually positive because the patient gets BCG vaccine in the childhood in the developing countries. The BCG is given to protect against TB but it makes the TB test positive in the future. The patient had a positive TB from previous BCG in the childhood. The patient still have to have chest x-ray which is the requirement for immigration. The patient chest x ray was normal.
If the previously negative TB test becomes positive then it is a concern for the patient and it means possible exposure to TB and the patient would need to be treated.