TB Blood Test Panel
What It Is:
A blood test that measures how your immune system responds to proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). This is a blood test, not a skin test, and it is the preferred method for patients who have had the BCG vaccine (common outside the US). It is also known as the Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) and is generally more specific than a tuberculin skin test.
Best For:
Healthcare workers and individuals with potential occupational exposure
Patients who have received the BCG vaccine
Anyone at risk for TB exposure or latent TB infection
Individuals requiring a screening test before certain immunomodulatory treatments or occupational health clearances
Patients who prefer a blood test over a skin test
Test Codes Included in the TB Panel
Test # | Test Name | What It Measures |
182879 | QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus | A blood test for tuberculosis (TB) infection that measures the immune system's response to TB proteins. It is preferred over the skin test for many patients because it does not cause false positives from the BCG vaccine . It is generally more specific than the tuberculin skin test. |
