Can You Get a TB Test During Pregnancy?

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By Abby McCoy | Updated on Sep 12, 2023
Image for article Can You Get a TB Test During Pregnancy?

A tuberculin skin test, or TB test, lets your healthcare provider see if you have been exposed to tuberculosis. TB tests are completely safe during pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)1 

To get the test 2 , a medical professional uses a small syringe and needle to inject a minuscule amount of a fluid called tuberculin just under the skin of your inner forearm. After 48 to 72 hours, your provider will look at that spot to determine your results. If the area is red, raised, or hard to the touch, your provider may want to do some more tests. The majority of TB tests come back negative 3 , so try to breathe easy while you wait.

Pregnant woman holding her stomach on a bed with a plant in the background

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  1. "TB and Pregnancy"https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/populations/pregnancy/default.htm#.

  2. "Testing for TB Infection"Jul 11, 2023https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/tbtesttypes.htm.

  3. Mohammad Sadegh Rezai, Reza Tabrizi, Ali Akbar Haghdoost, Mahdi Afshari, Siavosh Abedi, Maryam Akbari, Mohammad Amin Bahrami, and Mahmood Moosazadeh"Estimating the prevalence of Positive Tuberculin Skin Test Reactions in General Population and High-risk Groups: A Meta-analysis"International Journal of Preventive Medicine , vol. 8Nov 7, 2017https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5686919/#.


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Abby McCoy
Updated on Sep 12, 2023

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Can You Get a TB Test During Pregnancy?

 Abby McCoy Profile Photo
By Abby McCoy | Updated on Sep 12, 2023
Image for article Can You Get a TB Test During Pregnancy?

A tuberculin skin test, or TB test, lets your healthcare provider see if you have been exposed to tuberculosis. TB tests are completely safe during pregnancy, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)1 

To get the test 2 , a medical professional uses a small syringe and needle to inject a minuscule amount of a fluid called tuberculin just under the skin of your inner forearm. After 48 to 72 hours, your provider will look at that spot to determine your results. If the area is red, raised, or hard to the touch, your provider may want to do some more tests. The majority of TB tests come back negative 3 , so try to breathe easy while you wait.

Pregnant woman holding her stomach on a bed with a plant in the background

Want evidence-based health & wellness advice for fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum delivered to your inbox?

Your privacy is important to us. By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Expectful uses only high-quality sources, including academic research institutions, medical associations, and subject matter experts.

  1. "TB and Pregnancy"https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/populations/pregnancy/default.htm#.

  2. "Testing for TB Infection"Jul 11, 2023https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/tbtesttypes.htm.

  3. Mohammad Sadegh Rezai, Reza Tabrizi, Ali Akbar Haghdoost, Mahdi Afshari, Siavosh Abedi, Maryam Akbari, Mohammad Amin Bahrami, and Mahmood Moosazadeh"Estimating the prevalence of Positive Tuberculin Skin Test Reactions in General Population and High-risk Groups: A Meta-analysis"International Journal of Preventive Medicine , vol. 8Nov 7, 2017https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5686919/#.


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