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Tuberculosis Program

The health department’s tuberculosis (TB) program works to screen, identify, evaluate, and treat people with, or who are at high risk for, tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease primarily of the lungs. It is airborne and spread when someone with active TB coughs, laughs, or sings.

Resources

Infectious Disease Bureau

Salt Lake Public Health Center

385-468-4222
To report a disease emergency outside of normal business hours: 385-468-8888, option 7

Fax: 385-468-4232

610 South 200 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Monday through Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

TB Testing and Diagnosis

There are two types of tests that detect TB bacteria in the body: the TB skin test (TST, also know as PPD) and TB blood tests.

A positive TB skin test or blood test will only tell a person if they have been infected with TB bacteria. It does not tell whether the person has latent TB infection (LTBI) or has progressed to active TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are necessary to see whether a person has TB disease.

Tuberculosis Skin Testing

Tuberculosis skins tests (TST) are available at all of the health department's immunization clinics.

The fee for a TB skin test is $25. We do not bill insurance for TB skin tests; check with your insurance provider to determine if they will reimburse any cost to you.

To schedule a TB skin test, call 385-468-SHOT (7468).

Skin tests are scheduled only on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Fridays because test results must be read between 48 and 72 hours after the test is administered.

So if you receive a skin test on:

  • Monday, you must return to have the result read on Wednesday or Thursday
  • Tuesday, you must return to have the result read on Thursday or Friday
  • Wednesday, you must return to have the result read on Friday
  • Friday, you must return to have the result read on Monday

A patient who does not return to the clinic for reading within 72 hours will need to schedule another skin test.

The health department does not read results from a test placed by another agency or health care provider.

If you are responsible for a minor aged 16 or 17 who needs a skin test and you cannot accompany them to the clinic, please complete the consent form below and have the minor bring it with them to their appointment.

In some cases, a person will need a two-step skin test. A two-step test is useful for adults who are going to be retested periodically, such as health care workers or nursing home residents.

A positive skin test means that the person may be infected with TB bacteria. Additional tests are necessary to determine if the person has latent TB infection or active TB disease. People with a positive skin test are referred to the department's TB program for evaluation, and if necessary, treatment.

Schedule a TB Skin Test

385-468-7468
(385) 468-SHOT

Skin tests are scheduled only on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Fridays because test results must be read between 48 and 72 hours after the test is administered.

Tuberculosis Skin Test Consent Form

Consent for a 16- or 17-year-old to receive a tuberculosis skin test.

Tuberculosis Blood Testing

TB blood tests (QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus [QFT-Plus] and the T-SPOT) are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Please call 385-468-4222 to schedule your test; same-day appointments are often available!

The cost for a TB blood test is $130.

Schedule a TB Blood Test

385-468-4222

Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Same-day appointments often available

Tuberculosis Clinic

The health department’s Tuberculosis Clinic screens and evaluates people:

  • Who test positive on the TB skin test
  • Who are newly arrived refugees or immigrants
  • Whose health care provider refers them to the clinic for evaluation or treatment

When indicated, the clinic offers chest x-rays ($75 per view). Chest x-rays are generally required when someone initially tests positive, and then only if they have symptoms consistent with TB or they are a known contact to someone with infectious TB.

The CDC does not recommend yearly x-rays for those who were previously positive.

The clinic does not offer immigration physicals.

Tuberculosis Clinic

Salt Lake Public Health Center

385-468-4222

610 South 200 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Monday through Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Schedule a Chest X-Ray

385-468-4222

Monday and Wednesday by appointment only

Who Should Be Tested?

  • People who have had close contact with someone who has TB disease.
  • People who have lived in or traveled to a country where TB is prevalent (most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia).
  • People who live or work in high-risk settings (for example, healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, homeless shelters).
  • People with existing medical conditions (cancer, silicosis, HIV, etc.).
  • Infants, children, and adolescents are at an increased risk for infection or disease.

Many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB disease. TB tests are generally not necessary for people with a low risk of infection.

People at high risk for developing TB disease include:

  • People with HIV infection
  • People who are sick with other diseases that weaken the immune system
  • People who became infected with TB bacteria in the last two years
  • People who inject illegal drugs
  • Babies and young children
  • Older people
  • People who were not treated correctly for TB in the past

Skin Test Training

Placing and reading the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST—also known as “PPD”) requires knowledge, skill, and practice. Inaccurate placing or reading can result in false results.

The health department offers free certification classes to health care professionals in Salt Lake County. Most classes are 1–2 hours, depending on the number of students. Classes are held at the department’s Tuberculosis Clinic.

For more information about TB skin test training, call 385-468-4222.

We recommend viewing this video demonstrating the Mantoux Skin Test procedure prior to attending a training class.

Tuberculosis Clinic

Salt Lake Public Health Center

385-468-4222

610 South 200 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Monday through Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Mantoux Skin Test Procedure

Video demonstration from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention