TB Testing Near Me PPD Skin Test in Bolingbrook, IL

If you need TB testing near me in Bolingbrook, A2Z Pediatrics can place and read a PPD (Mantoux) skin test. A nurse injects a tiny amount of fluid under the skin of your forearm. You come back 48 to 72 hours later so a clinician can read the result.

Call 630-755-5437 to schedule your two visits.

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On this page:

1. What is a TB skin test?
2. Who needs TB testing?
3. Where can I get TB testing near me?
4. What happens at each visit
5. Which day should I get tested?
6. How the result is read
7. What if it is positive?
8. What is a 2-step test?
9. Skin test or blood test?
10. Cost
11. Children, teens and pregnancy
12. Our offices and hours
13. FAQs

A TB skin test, also called a PPD or Mantoux test, checks whether your body has reacted to the germ that causes tuberculosis. A health worker injects a small amount of purified protein derivative (PPD) just under the skin of your forearm. If you have been infected, a firm bump forms at the spot within a few days.

The test tells us about infection, not about being sick. Most people with a positive result feel fine and cannot spread TB. Your doctor decides what to do next. See the CDC page on the tuberculin skin test for the clinical details.

Employers, schools and doctors ask for TB tests for different reasons. Common ones include:

• Healthcare, childcare, school and nursing home jobs
• College, nursing school or other program entry
• Volunteering with children or in care settings
• Contact with someone who has TB
• A doctor’s request after travel or a health condition

Always ask whoever requested the test which type they accept. Some want a skin test and some want a blood test. If you need TB testing for a green card medical exam, the exam doctor follows CDC rules and may require a blood test, so ask them before you book a skin test.

You can get TB testing near me at A2Z Pediatrics, a pediatric and family practice with offices in Bolingbrook, Downers Grove and Darien. Walk-in clinics, urgent care centers and county health departments also test. A doctor’s office has one advantage: your reading visit and any follow-up happen with the same team.

Call 630-755-5437 to schedule. Patients also come to us from Naperville, Woodridge, Romeoville and Plainfield.

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Visit 1: placement (about 10 minutes)

1. Check in and tell us why you need the test and who is asking for it.
2. We ask about past TB tests, the BCG vaccine, health conditions and medicines.
3. A nurse cleans your inner forearm and injects the PPD just under the skin. A small bump forms right away.
4. We tell you the exact day and time to return.

Visit 2: reading (about 5 minutes)

1. Come back 48 to 72 hours later. A trained clinician feels and measures the firm swelling.
2. The result is recorded in millimeters. Bring any form your employer or school needs.
3. If the result is positive, the doctor explains the next steps.

Do not scratch the spot, cover it with a tight bandage or put creams on it. You can wash normally and pat it dry.

You must be read within 48 to 72 hours. If you miss that window, you may need a new test. Our hours are: Mon and Wed 9 AM to 7 PM, Tue and Thu 9 AM to 5 PM, Fri 9 AM to 3 PM, Sat 9 AM to 1 PM, Sun closed.

Plan ahead if you have a deadline. Count the days before your start date, because you need both visits.

A clinician measures the induration, the firm raised area, across your forearm in millimeters. Redness alone does not count. Even a negative reading is written down in millimeters.

What counts as positive depends on your risk group:

• 5 mm or more is positive for people at highest risk, such as people with HIV, close contacts of someone with infectious TB, and people with a weakened immune system.
• 10 mm or more is positive for some groups, such as recent arrivals from countries where TB is common, healthcare workers and young children.
• 15 mm or more is positive for everyone else.

The BCG vaccine, given in some countries, can cause a false positive skin test. Tell us if you had it.

A positive result means you have been infected with the TB germ. It does not mean you have active TB disease, and you cannot spread it to others if you are not sick. The usual next steps are a chest X-ray and sometimes a blood test.

Many people have latent TB infection. They feel fine, and treatment can stop it from ever becoming active disease. The doctor reviews your symptoms and records and explains your options. For more, read our guide What Is the PPD Test? and our article on a positive TB test and immigration.

A 2-step TB test is two skin tests, placed one to four weeks apart. It is often required for new healthcare workers and some employers. People with an old TB infection can test negative at first because the immune reaction has faded. The first test can wake up that response, so the second test shows it.

If your first test is negative and you have not had a skin test in the past year, you do the second step one to four weeks later. If your employer requires a 2-step test, tell us when you call so we can plan your visits.

A TB blood test (IGRA) is the other common option. Which one you need depends on who is asking.

If you want TB testing near me with only one visit, ask your doctor about the blood test, and confirm first that your employer or school accepts it.

Prices vary by clinic, so ask each place for the total cost of both visits, since some charge separately for the reading. Call us at 630-755-5437 for our current price and to ask about insurance. If cost is a concern, mention it when you call.

The TB skin test is safe for children, teens and pregnant women. We are a pediatric and family practice, so parents often ask about a test for themselves and their kids.

Tell us if your child has had the BCG vaccine, was born outside the US, or has been around someone with TB. Young children are read with a different cutoff than healthy adults.

Hours: Mon and Wed 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Tue and Thu 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Fri 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Sun closed.
Phone: 630-755-5437

Call 630-755-5437Contact Us to Book

How long does a TB skin test take?

The placement visit takes about 10 minutes. You then return 48 to 72 hours later for a short reading visit of about 5 minutes. The result is not ready on the same day, so plan for both visits before any deadline. If you need a result in one visit, ask your doctor whether a blood test is an option.

Can I get a TB test and the result on the same day?

Not with a skin test, because the reaction takes 48 to 72 hours to develop. A TB blood test is the option when you need one visit, and its result comes back in a few days. Ask your employer or school whether they accept it, and call us to ask what we offer.

What does a positive TB skin test mean?

It means your body reacted to the TB germ, so you have been infected at some point. It does not mean you have active TB disease or that you can spread it. The next steps are usually a chest X-ray and a talk with the doctor about treatment for latent infection, which prevents active disease.

Is the TB skin test safe for children and pregnant women?

Yes. The skin test uses a tiny amount of purified protein, not live bacteria, and it is safe for children, teens and pregnant women. Tell the nurse if you have had a severe reaction to a TB test before, because in that case we would not repeat it and would choose another test.

Does the BCG vaccine affect the TB skin test?

Yes. The BCG vaccine, given in some countries, can cause a false positive skin test, especially if it was given after infancy. A TB blood test is not affected by BCG, so your doctor may suggest it. Tell us about any BCG vaccine so we can read your result correctly.

Do I need an appointment?

Please call 630-755-5437 to schedule, so your placement and reading visits both fall on days we are open. Calling ahead also lets us tell you what to bring, such as any form your employer or school needs, and answer questions about the BCG vaccine or a past positive test.

How much does a TB skin test cost?

Call 630-755-5437 for our current price and to ask whether the reading visit is included. Ask every clinic for the total cost of both visits, since some charge separately for the reading. If cost is a concern, mention it when you call and ask about your insurance coverage.

Call 630-755-5437Contact Us to Book