Tuberculosis Program

The health department’s tuberculosis (TB) program works to screen, identify, evaluate, and treat people with, or who are at high risk for, tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease primarily of the lungs. It is airborne and spread when someone with active TB coughs, laughs, or sings. More information about tuberculosis .

The health department recommends a TB skin test for people who:

• work in certain environments (such as a health care or correctional facility)
• have existing medical conditions (such as cancer, silicosis, HIV, etc.)
• have been in close contact with someone with TB disease
• has lived or traveled in a country where TB is prevalent
• use needles to inject drugs

Tuberculosis skins tests (TST—also known as a “PPD”) are available at all of the health department’s immunization clinics.

The fee for a TB skin test is $25. We do not bill insurance for TB skin tests; check with your insurance provider to determine if they will reimburse any cost to you.

To schedule a TB skin test, call 385-468-SHOT (7468).

Skin tests are scheduled only on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Fridays because test results must be read between 48 and 72 hours after the test is administered.

So if you receive a skin test on:

• Monday, you must return to have the result read on Wednesday or Thursday
• Tuesday, you must return to have the result read on Thursday or Friday
• Wednesday, you must return to have the result read on Friday
• Friday, you must return to have the result read on Monday

A patient who does not return to the clinic for reading within 72 hours will need to schedule another skin test.

The health department does not read results from a test placed by another agency or health care provider.

If you are responsible for a minor aged 16 or 17 who needs a skin test and you cannot accompany them to the clinic, please complete this consent form and have the minor bring it with them to their appointment.

In some cases, a person will need a two-step skin test. A two-step test is useful for adults who are going to be retested periodically, such as health care workers or nursing home residents.

People with positive TB skin tests are referred to the department’s TB Clinic for evaluation and, if necessary, treatment.

The health department’s Tuberculosis Clinic screens and evaluates people:

• who test positive on the TB skin test
• who are newly arrived refugees or immigrants
• whose health care provider refers them to the clinic for evaluation or treatment

When indicated, the clinic offers chest x-rays ($75 per view). Chest x-rays are generally required when someone initially tests positive, and then only if they have symptoms consistent with TB or they are a known contact to someone with infectious TB.

The CDC does not recommend yearly x-rays for those who were previously positive.

The clinic does not offer immigration physicals.

Placing and reading the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST—also known as “PPD”) requires knowledge, skill, and practice. Inaccurate placing or reading can result in false results.

The health department offers free certification classes to health care professionals in Salt Lake County. Most classes are 1–2 hours, depending on the number of students. Classes are held at the department’s Tuberculosis Clinic.

For more information about TB skin test training, call 385-468-4222.

We recommend viewing this video demonstrating the Mantoux Skin Test procedure prior to attending a training class.