Can I take the gold blood test to detect Pulmonary TB?

[DonPacifico]

Hello.

About 6 weeks ago I was admitted to an isolation ward after an x ray caused concern and I displayed flu like symptoms.

After about a week most of these symptoms subsided, and the doctor decided that I did not have active tb as I no longer had a fever (after a course of general antiobiotics) and my vital signs were fine. He said if nothing else, I had at least suffered pneumonia.

My sputum tests also came back negative, though my doctor wasn't wholly satisfied with the samples I gave, and from what I've read these tests are hardly conclusive anyhow.

After leaving hospital I still had a slight cough, and not much appetite. This worried me, but after a few days I was completely better. For about 4 weeks I was fine, but in the last week or so I've been feeling the symptoms again. Not nearly as bad as before, and without fever. But I've been coughing occasionally, feeling discomfort in my chest, bloated, and quite fatigued.

I have a follow up x ray in a week, and a check up with the same doctor a week later, but I would really like better testing.

Thank-you for your time.

[Soul01]

Hi Don. As far as I understand it, the Gold test will only indicate if you’ve been exposed to TB. It cannot differentiate between latent and active TB. Also, TB doesn’t always show up in sputum tests.

Explain your concern to your doctor and ask for additional tests. Living with the unknown is very stressful. I hope you get some answers.

[DonPacifico in reply to Soul01]

Thank-you.

[HelenC Partner TB Alert]

Hi DonPacifico,

This does sound worrying and frustrating. I take it you have not has a TB skin test or blood test at all? If not, I would certainly ask your doctor whether you would benefit from one.

Because there isn't a single tool that will conclusively diagnose TB, doctors use a range of tests to make a judgment. A skin test or blood test will tell you if you have TB in your body but not if it is latent (asleep) or active (causing harm). If you have a positive blood or skin test and symptoms then it is most likely TB. However, your doctor may suspect another cause for your symptoms and may not want to risk diagnosing TB without having ruled out other causes.

Do persevere and seek a second opinion if needed.

Best wishes,

Helen

[zafr]

Hi

I would recommend you that if you are worried about TB whether you have or not

Then you should for blood test TB Quantiferon Gold

Which shows you body have tb or not either positive or negative if it s negative then you should not worry

About it

Cough is not only linked to TB

Could be any other reason

(Sometimes your immune system is low )thanks