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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Doctor Visits

Testing for Latent Tuberculosis: Questions for the Doctor

A doctor is wearing a face mask and holding a medical chart while talking with a masked patient.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious health condition that usually affects the lungs. When someone is sick with TB, it’s called active TB or TB disease. Active TB can spread from person to person through the air, like when someone with active TB sneezes or coughs.

What is latent tuberculosis?

Sometimes, you can have TB but not feel sick. This is called latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), or inactive TB. If you have LTBI, you may not know it — so you need to get tested.

Talk to your doctor about getting tested for LTBI if you:

  • Have been in close contact with someone who has active TB — for example, a person you live with
  • Were born in or have lived in a country where TB is common — for example, Mexico, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, or China
  • Live or have lived in a large group setting — for example, a homeless shelter, nursing home, or prison
  • Have HIV or another condition that weakens your immune system (the system in the body that fights infection)

If you have LTBI, you can’t pass it on to others by sneezing or coughing. But if you don’t get treatment, LTBI can turn into active TB. This could make you very sick, and you could then pass TB on to others.

Remember, LTBI doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms — so the only way to know if you have it is to get tested. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor if you’re at risk for LTBI.

Learn more about TB testing.

What do I ask the doctor?

When you visit the doctor, it helps to have questions ready ahead of time. You can also ask a family member or friend to go with you to take notes.

Consider taking this list of questions to your next appointment.

  • What puts me at risk for LTBI?
  • Do I need to get tested for LTBI?
  • How often do you recommend I get tested for LTBI?
  • What are the different types of tests for LTBI?
  • Which test do you recommend? Why?
  • How will I find out my test results?
  • When will I get my test results?
  • If I have LTBI, what will happen next?
  • Can you give me some information about LTBI to take home with me?

Content last updated October 3, 2024

Reviewer Information

This information on tuberculosis was adapted from materials from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Reviewed by:

Sheena Harris, MD, MPH
Medical Officer, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Program
Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement (CEPI)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

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