Tuberculosis (TB) Testing

TB Testing, Including Pre-employment Testing

The Wyandotte County Public Health Department offers TB testing, including routine testing for people who have TB screening requirements for work, school, or travel. Testing is offered through our Laboratory. For questions about TB testing, call (913) 573-8855. 

There are two types of TB tests - skin tests and blood tests.

• TB skin test: A TB skin test, also known as a tuberculin skin test, requires two visits. During the first visit, a health care provider uses a small needle to put some testing fluid called tuberculin under the skin on the inner side of your forearm. You will need to return for a second visit two or three days later to have the skin test read. A trained health care provider will measure the size of the bump or reaction on your arm. The result depends on the size of the bump or reaction.  Most people can get a TB skin test, including children and pregnant women. TB skin tests typically cost less than TB blood tests You should not get a TB skin test if you have had a severe reaction in the past (consider a TB blood test instead). Learn more about TB skin tests on the CDC website.
• TB blood test: A TB blood test (also called an interferon-gamma release assay or IGRA) is done in one visit. A health care provider takes a blood sample during your visit. The blood is used to find out if you are infected with the bacteria that cause TB. Anyone can get a TB blood test. This may be a good option for people who have received a TB vaccine (the bacille Calmette-Guérin or BCG vaccine) or who are unable to return for a second visit two to three days later. TB blood tests typically cost more than TB skin tests. Learn more about the TB blood test on the CDC website.

Get tested through our Laboratory

Quick Facts About TB:

• TB is caused by a bacterium that usually affects the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body.
• There are two types of TB infection: 1) active TB disease, which makes people feel sick and can be spread to others and 2) latent TB infection, which is inactive, doesn't make people feel sick, and can’t be spread to others.
• TB spreads through the air when a person with active TB disease coughs, speaks, or sings. It spreads from person-to-person through prolonged contact with someone who has active TB disease, such as close contacts who spend time together daily. It is not spread through brief encounters.
• TB is not spread by kissing, shaking hands, sharing food, drink or toothbrushes, or by touching objects like bed linens or toilet seats.
• TB is treatable with antibiotics. Shortly after beginning treatment, a person with active TB disease will no longer be infectious.

CDC: Information About Tuberculosis (TB)

For Healthcare Providers

Active TB cases (confirmed or suspected) are reportable by phone to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) within (4) hours: call 877-427-7317. Latent TB infection is reportable to KDHE and the Wyandotte County Public Health Department within (24) hours.

Disease Reporting contact information:

Kansas Department of Health and Environment:

• KDHE Epidemiology Hotline: 877-427-7317 (Answered 24/7)
• KDHE Fax* Number: 877-427-7318

Wyandotte County Public Health Department:

• Disease Reporting Phone Number: (913) 573-6712
• WyCo PHD Disease Reporting Fax* Number: (913) 573-6744*

*If you are faxing information on latent TB infection or another 24-hour reportable condition, please use the Kansas Notifiable Disease Reporting Form. For 4-hour reportable diseases (including confirmed or suspected active TB), please call first instead of faxing, if possible.

More Information on Notifiable Diseases in Kansas

Healthcare providers and other mandated reporters are required to notify public health departments of any suspected or confirmed reportable disease/condition, as defined by Kansas statute and regulation:

• Kansas State Statute (K.S.A.) Chapter 65: K.S.A. 65-118; 65-128; and 65-6001 through 65-6007;
• Kansas Administrative Regulations (K.A.R.): K.A.R. 28-1-2 and 28-1-18. 

KDHE: Disease Reporting for Health Professionals

More Resources on Notifiable Diseases:

• Kansas Notifiable Disease List(PDF, 124KB)
• Influenza Reporting Form(PDF, 112KB)
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Reporting Form(PDF, 224KB)
• Varicella Reporting Form(PDF, 201KB)
• Food-related Illness Online Reporting Form

Other Resources for Providers

• Providers sign up for Kansas Health Alert Network
• CDC: Health Care Provider Communication and Education Resources - TB