Tuberculosis (TB) Testing

What Is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. It most often affects the lungs, but it can involve other parts of the body. TB can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, even if they aren’t showing symptoms.

Not everyone exposed to TB develops illness. Many people develop latent TB infection, where the bacteria are in the body but not causing symptoms or spreading to others. A positive TB infection test does not necessarily mean you have active TB disease — further evaluation is required.

Why Would I Need a TB Test?

Testing for TB infection is often required for:

• Work or clinical placements (healthcare, childcare, education)
• School or university health requirements
• Immigration or travel health documentation
• Routine health screening when exposure risk is higher

A TB test helps determine whether you’ve been exposed and developed an immune response, even if you don’t have symptoms.

How Does TB Testing Work?

At our clinic, we provide Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST) — also called a Mantoux test. A small amount of purified protein derivative (PPD) is injected just under the skin, usually on the forearm. After 48–72 hours, a trained healthcare provider measures the skin reaction to see whether it indicates prior exposure to TB bacteria.

Two‑step testing — where a second test is placed 1–4 weeks after the first — may be recommended for ongoing screening (e.g., healthcare workers or long‑term requirements).

Is TB Testing Covered by OHIP?

TB testing can be covered by OHIP in specific medically necessary situations, such as:

• Contact with a person who has active TB
• Requirement for admission to school, daycare, or long‑term care
• Certain medically indicated conditions

However, workplace, school, or travel documentation tests that are not medically required may not be covered, and fees may apply.

Our clinic can clarify what applies to your situation when you book your appointment.

What Happens If My Test Is Positive?

A positive skin test result means your immune system has responded to TB bacteria in the past, but it does not confirm active disease on its own. Follow‑up evaluation — often including a chest X‑ray and clinical assessment — is necessary to determine whether latent infection or active TB disease is present.

If you test positive, our staff will discuss next steps with you and help you connect with appropriate medical follow‑up.