Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Diagnosis - Clinical - Skin Test - Tests

If a person is ill, and TB is suspected then a complete history of the patient must be obtained, which includes:

• Exposure to tuberculosis
• Previous tuberculosis and treatment
• Previous preventive therapy
• Previous tests for TB
• Illnesses associated with increased risk (diabetes, immuno-deficiency such as HIV/AIDS or drugs, alcoholism, malnutrition)
• Personal, family and social history

To determine whether a person has contracted TB, the Tuberculin Skin Test (Mantoux Test) is completed initially. If the results are positive the person is said to have a positive culture of M. tuberculosis.