What happens if you fail a TB test for a job?
Asked by: Lesley Hudson | Last update: March 20, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (66 votes)
Failing (testing positive on) a TB test for a job means you likely have latent TB infection (LTBI) or active TB disease, requiring further evaluation like a chest X-ray and medical consultation to determine the next steps, which could involve treatment for LTBI or medication for active TB, but doesn't automatically disqualify you due to ADA protections, though active disease must be medically cleared before starting work.
What happens if you don't pass a TB test?
Negative TB test
If your TB skin or blood test is negative, you likely haven't been exposed to the TB bacterium. A negative TB skin test means your skin didn't react to the liquid. You may need further testing if your results were negative, but you have symptoms of TB.
Can you refuse a TB test for a job?
In the end, the employer likely has a legitimate, non-discriminatory business purpose for requiring the TB test. Therefore, it can require submitting to the test as a condition of employment and can terminate at-will employees for refusing.
Can I be fired for having TB?
Tuberculosis has been considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Protection under the ADA means that an individual who has or has had TB cannot be denied employment or fired because of his or her current or previous infection.
Can TB stop you from getting a job?
Can I work with a Latent TB infection / positive TB test? Yes, because Latent TB infections are not contagious. The bacteria which causes TB is present but it is not multiplying and being transmitted.
Annual TB Testing Is A Scam | Screening For Healthcare Workers Is Broken
Can I go to work if I test positive for TB?
It's important to understand that having a positive TB test result does not automatically disqualify someone from working. Employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for employees with medical conditions, including latent TB infection. The key is proper management and follow-up care.
Why do jobs check for TB?
You need a TB test for work primarily to ensure a safe environment by preventing the spread of contagious tuberculosis (TB), especially in healthcare, education, or jobs with vulnerable populations, as required by public health regulations and employers to identify latent or active infections before they risk infecting others, notes Centers Urgent Care and the Virginia Department of Health (vdh.virginia.gov). It protects you, your coworkers, and the public, by identifying infected individuals who can then receive treatment, stopping transmission, says the Lompoc Valley Medical Center.
What to do if an employee tests positive for TB?
Employees who test positive must have X-rays and a complete medical evaluation. Those who test positive with latent TB should be offered treatment. Staff with TB symptoms should be excluded from the workplace until test results come back negative.
What are the new TB rules?
In short, the new requirements are that:
They must also be moving from a herd that has been tested in the last six months; If they do not fulfil both these requirements, they must then be tested, either within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd.
What kind of jobs require a TB test?
Common occupations requiring a tuberculosis test for employment include: health care workers, home health aides, laboratory workers, and teachers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides additional TB test guidance.
Is TB testing mandatory?
CDC recommends all U.S. health care personnel should be screened for TB upon hire. Annual TB testing is not recommended unless there is a known exposure or ongoing transmission.
What can you do instead of a TB test?
The fundamental recommendation is that IGRAs can be used in place of TST in all situations in which TST is currently used.
How do employers test for TB?
There are two primary categories of TB tests: blood tests and skin tests. No matter which testing method is used, if the result is positive, additional symptom evaluation is required as well as a confirmatory chest x-ray.
How does a failed TB test look?
A "failed" TB test usually means a negative result, which looks like no raised bump (induration) or a very small one (less than 5mm) at the injection site 48-72 hours after the test, indicating you likely don't have a TB infection. A positive result (indicating a past TB infection) looks like a firm, raised bump (≥5mm, depending on risk factors), not just redness, that your healthcare provider measures.
What not to do when you get a TB test?
After the test, you should avoid using bandages, putting on lotion, or scratching the test area because it may affect the results. You can wash the area with water, but do not wipe or scrub. If the area itches, put an ice cube or cold cloth on it.
What is silent tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) germs can live in the body for years without making you sick. This is called inactive TB or latent TB infection.
Can you be fired for having TB?
According to U.S. law and international standards, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects employees with tuberculosis. Human Resource managers must supply reasonable modifications, and employers are restricted from firing workers because they tested positive for tuberculosis infection.
Does TB test have to be exactly 48 hours?
The skin test should be read between 48 and 72 hours after administration. A patient who does not return within 72 hours will probably need to be rescheduled for another skin test. The three cut points below should be used to determine whether the skin test reaction is positive.
Did Jeremy Clarkson's cows get TB?
Jeremy Clarkson has had to cull the first calf born on Diddly Squat after his Cotswolds farm was struck by an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis. The Clarkson's Farm star revealed that the cow had been pregnant with twins when it caught the disease earlier this summer.
Why do employers check for TB?
TB tests are used to screen for the presence of the disease so people can be treated and so the spread of the disease can be contained, and many employers require a TB skin test as a condition of employment. You should also be tested for TB if you're at a higher risk for contracting the disease.
How serious is a positive TB test?
A “positive” TB blood test result means you probably have TB germs in your body. Most people with a positive TB blood test have latent TB infection. To be sure, your doctor will examine you and do a chest x-ray. You may need other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or active TB disease.
What are the first signs of TB?
Early signs of tuberculosis (TB) often include a persistent cough (lasting 3+ weeks), sometimes with phlegm or blood, chest pain, fatigue, fever, chills, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite, with symptoms varying if TB affects areas outside the lungs, like the spine (back pain) or lymph nodes (swollen glands).
Does every job require a TB test?
While TB disease is rare and most employers are not required to have their employees tested prior to employment, those working in professions with an increased risk of contracting the disease and/or with vulnerable populations often are.
How common is it for healthcare workers to get TB?
The prevalence of tuberculosis among healthcare workers was found to be 15.92% [95% CI 8.49–27.88|I2 = 99% | p = 0]. Female sex was associated with 1.37 times higher odds of infection [95% CI 0.68–2.38, I2 = 80%, p = 0.01]. Advanced age increased the odds by 1.47 times [95% CI 1.33–4.62, I2 = 76%, p = 0.01].
How long do TB test results take?
A normal sputum culture can take 1 to 8 weeks to provide results. A rapid sputum test can tell if a person has TB within 24 hours. A test may be done when: A person is thought to have TB, but confirmation is needed before sputum culture results will be ready.