en español
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease that can damage the lungs or other parts of the body like the brain, kidneys, or spine.
TB is spread through the air when someone who is sick with TB disease of the lungs coughs, sneezes, sings or speaks. Others can become infected by breathing the germs into their lungs.
People who are infected with TB usually have had close contact with a person who is sick with TB disease. Family members, roommates, friends or close co-workers are more likely to become infected by someone with TB disease. This is because they spend long periods of time together in closed spaces like homes or offices.
TB is NOT spread by shaking hands, kissing, sex, sharing glasses, plates, utensils, clothing, sheets or furniture. TB cannot spread through the air outside.
There are medications to treat TB. TB can kill you if it is not treated.
More about TB:
Who needs TB testing?
Where can I get a TB test?
Wake County TB test hours and eligibility
What does a positive TB test mean?
TB symptoms
TB treatment
Wake County TB statistics
Educational Materials
More information
Who needs a tuberculosis test?
- People who have recently arrived from a part of the world where TB is common (Asia, Africa, Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe)
- People who are planning to spend more than 3 months in one of the areas of the world listed above. They should be tested before leaving on their trip and after returning.
- People who live or work in long term care or day care facilities
- People who the Health Department has determined to be in close contact with someone who has active TB disease
- People living with HIV/AIDS
- People who use street drugs
- Homeless people and staff who work in homeless shelters
Inmates and people who work in jails.
There are two tests that show if someone is infected with TB:
- For a TB skin test a small amount of test fluid is injected under the skin on the lower part of the arm. A trained health care worker must look at your arm for a reaction within 48 to 72 hours. Health care providers use this test most often.
- For a TB blood test, blood is drawn from the arm to measure the way the immune system reacts to TB bacteria.
A positive skin test or blood test means that you have TB germs in your body. A positive test does not show if you have latent TB infection (LTBI) or active TB disease. You will need a chest x-ray and other tests to find out if you have TB disease.
Where can I get a TB test?
Most primary care physician's offices and Urgent Care Clinics do TB testing. Wake County Human Services' Public Health Center (Clinic E) can also do TB skin testing for people who are considered to be at high risk (see list above).
Can I get a TB skin test if I had BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccine?
Yes, people who have been vaccinated with BCG can still be given a TB skin test. BCG is a vaccine used to prevent TB disease in many countries. It is not generally recommended in the United States.
Where can I get the new QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test?
Wake County Human Services Public Health Center does not use the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test (FDA approved in 2005). If you would like this blood test instead of the TB skin test, you will need to see your primary care physician.
When can I get a TB skin test at the Public Health Center in Raleigh?
TB skin tests are given in Clinic E on:
Mondays 8:30–11 a.m. and 1–4 p.m.
Fridays 8:30–11 a.m. and 1–4 p.m.
TB skin tests are read in Clinic E on:
Mondays 8:30–11 a.m. and 1–4 p.m.
Thursdays 8:30–11 a.m. and 1–4 p.m.
What does it mean to have a positive TB skin test?
A positive TB skin test tells you if you have been exposed to TB germs. It does not tell you whether or not you are sick with active TB disease. If you have a positive TB skin test, you will need to have other tests done, like a chest x-ray and a sputum (mucus) sample to find out whether you have active TB disease.
TB symptoms may include:
- a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
- pain in the chest
- coughing up blood or sputum
- weakness or fatigue
- weight loss
- no appetite
- chills
- fever
- sweating at night
TB treatment
Is there treatment for exposure to TB germs (also called latent TB infection or LTBI)?
Yes, if you have been exposed to TB (LTBI) you can take drugs to kill the TB germs and prevent active TB disease.
Is there treatment for active TB disease?
Yes, active TB disease can be cured by taking several drugs for 6 to 12 months. Public Health Center staff will meet with you often to make sure you are taking your drugs correctly and that you are not having any problems.
Wake County TB statistics
How many people have had TB in Wake County?
Year # of people with TB
2005 34
2006 52
2007 54
2008 40
2009 22
2010 37
Educational Materials
Do I need a TB test? (English)
Do I need a TB test? (Spanish)
TB and You (English)
TB and You (Spanish)
For more information visit:
en español
La Tuberculosis
La tuberculosis (TB) es una enfermedad seria que puede dañar los pulmones u otras partes del cuerpo, como el cerebro, los riñones o la espina dorsal.
La TB se propaga por el aire cuando una persona que está enferma con la TB en los pulmones, tose, estornuda, canta o habla. Otras personas se pueden infectar al respirar los gérmenes.
Las personas que están infectadas con la TB normalmente han estado con una persona enferma con la TB por mucho tiempo. Los miembros de la familia, las personas que viven con el enfermo, los amigos o las personas que trabajan con el enfermo tienen más riesgo de infectarse porque están juntos por mucho tiempo en lugares encerrados como casas u oficinas.
No se propaga la TB al dar la mano, besarse, tener relaciones sexuales, compartir vasos, platos, utensilios, ropa, sabanas ni muebles. No se puede propagar la TB cuando se está al aire libre.
Hay medicamentos para tratar la TB. La TB puede ser mortal si no se trata.
Para información en español sobre la tuberculosis en el Condado de Wake, llame al 919-250-3900 o visite http://www.cdc.gov/tb/esp/
Do I need a TB test? (Spanish) - Necesito Yo, Hacerme la Prueba de TB?
TB and You (Spanish) - La TB y Usted