TURBURCULOSIS (TB) is it possible for someone to have a negative TB skin test one week
health advisory
Hospital
Diseases
2007-11-12 20:37:43
If you are TB negative and you have a chest x-ray that shows infiltrate in the lungs, you might have pneumonia.
False negative TB tests are seen in people with compromised immune systems and people with HIV infections.
Very unusual. Were you taking any medications for inflamation at the time? That can keep any swelling from happening from the skin test. Well, they can have you do a sputum culture. You spit into a container and they'll test it to see for sure.
if you had a neg TB test, that means you were never exposed to TB and your body therefore didn't make any antibodies that would fight the shot (and make a positive reaction to the test)..Positive chest x-ray means you were exposed to TB (could be active or inactive). If you were exposed and overcame then you are inactive, but will always test postive and same with the active person .you wil never go back to being negative, because your body will alway have TB antibodies...
I agree with the first poster that you can have false negative TB tests with people with decreased immune systems (ie HIV, leukemia, cancer patients on chemo, lupus?.etc)