Tested positive for tb, wha..

I tested positive on my tb skin test for school. My school doesn't pay for the x-rays, and neither does my insurance (AHCCCS). I'm on welfare, and can't afford to pay a lot for an x-ray. What can I do!? I also called the county health department, they charge $57, which wouldn't be bad if I had money to burn.

i got my chest X-Ray for free, plus the 8 months of horse pills. TB, if not treated, is an infectious diseaes that spreads like wildfire. Call the hospital, I GUARANTEE they will either do it for free, or tell you where to go.

Thanks so much! I finally did get it done...my insurance did cover it after all, so whoever I had talked to didn't know what they were doing! thanks again! Report It

I agree, call the county or local hospital and someone should offer to do it for free. A positive skin test doesn't mean an active infection, only a latent one. However, whoever did the skin test, should have prescribed 9 months of Isoniazid. A chest x-ray is confirmatory, but you'll still take 9 months of meds regardless.

Depending on how old you are, and where you're from, some time ago they offered a vaccine against TB in some 3rd world countries, called a BCG. I don't think it has been offered in some 20 years, but the draw back is, it will always show a positive skin test, even though they don't have TB. I seriously doubt this is the case with you, but I thought I'd mention it. My Pharm teacher in med school always had a + TB skin test. He received the vaccine in Hungary when he was 10 yreas old or something.