If you think you may have tuberculosis, it is important to see a doctor right away. Tuberculosis is a serious infection that can be deadly if not treated.

Two types of tests can be done to see if you have tuberculosis. The first is a skin test. A small amount of fluid is injected just under the skin on your arm. If you are infected with tuberculosis, a hard, raised bump will form in that spot within 48 to 72 hours.

The second type of test is called a chest x-ray. This can show if you have active tuberculosis in your lungs. Your doctor may also take a sample of mucus from your cough to test for the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.

If you have active tuberculosis, you will need to be treated with antibiotics for several months. You will also need to avoid close contact with other people so that you do not spread the infection to them. Tests that can be used to diagnose tuberculosis: the TB skin test and the TB blood test.

The TB skin test is done by injecting a small amount of fluid into the skin on your arm. A positive result means that you have been infected with tuberculosis.

The TB blood test is done by taking a sample of blood from your vein and testing it for the presence of tuberculosis bacteria. A positive result means that you have been infected with tuberculosis.

If you have a positive result on either the TB skin test or the TB blood test, your doctor will likely order a chest x-ray to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment for tuberculosis generally involves taking a combination of drugs for several months. It is important that you take all of your medications as prescribed and finish the entire course of treatment, even if you are feeling better. If you stop taking your medications too soon, the infection could come back and be more difficult to treat.

If you have been diagnosed with tuberculosis, it is important to stay away from other people until your treatment is completed. This will help prevent spreading the infection to others.

It is also important to tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to tuberculosis so that they can be tested and, if necessary, treated.

The second type of TB test is the TB blood test. This test isn't as common as the TB skin test, but it may be used if you have a positive skin test and your health care provider wants to rule out a false-positive result.

To do the TB blood test, a health care provider will take a small sample of blood from your vein and send it to a lab for testing. This usually takes a few days to get results back from the lab.

Conclusion:

If you think you may have been exposed to or are showing symptoms of tuberculosis, contact your health care provider right away to discuss getting tested for tuberculosis disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing serious health complications from tuberculosis disease.