About TB / Diagnosis
© 2006 NE London TB Network. All rights reserved.
Homerton Hospital, Hackney, London E9 6SR
Tel: 020 8510 7670 | Fax: 020 8510 7731
E-mail: william.roberts@newhampct.nhs.uk
As TB can affect any part of the body, diagnosis strategies differ but common tests include:
- Sputum Sample : these are examined under a microscope after staining to see if there are any bacteria.
- Sputum Culture : the TB bacteria in sputum can be grown in a liquid or on a jelly slope for further identification
- Induced sputum: sometimes it is difficult for a person to bring up sputum so a mist is inhaled to help sputum production
- Bronchoscopy: a procedure using a camera to look directly inside the lungs during which samples can be taken.
- Chest x-ray : this shows the lungs and indicates whether there might be TB infection
- Tuberculin Skin Test : a small (0.1 ml) amount of water containing proteins from TB is injected into the skin. A red response occurs after 2 days in those who have been vaccinated against TB. In those with TB the red response is much bigger.
- Blood test: This shows whether or not an individual reacts against two proteins which are found in TB.
- Lymph node aspirate: this takes fluid from a gland in order to identify TB bacteria directly or after culture.
Effective antibiotics can be identified by growing the TB germ. This currently takes about 8 weeks, but with advances in techniques it will soon be a quicker process.
© 2006 NE London TB Network. All rights reserved.
Homerton Hospital, Hackney, London E9 6SR
Tel: 020 8510 7670 | Fax: 020 8510 7731
E-mail: william.roberts@newhampct.nhs.uk
