Tuberculosis (TB) Testing

What You Need To Know About Tuberculosis (TB) Testing

What Is Tuberculosis? 

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that can be spread from person to person through the air. It usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. General symptoms of TB include weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. Symptoms of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain and coughing up blood.

Does Appletree offer TB testing?

Yes. Appletree offers a skin test called the Mantoux tuberculin skin test. This test is performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm. After completing this test, the patient must return within 48 to 72 hours to review the results and look for any reaction on the arm. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is NOT a vaccine and does not offer immunity to TB.

Is the TB test covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)?

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) does not cover the cost of TB skin tests that are required for employment, travel or volunteer purposes. To find out the cost of this test, review our Uninsured Services Price List. 

Medically necessary TB skin tests and documentation are covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). These include testing for:

• People who have identified contacts of a TB case
• People who have recently immigrated from countries where TB is more common

TB skin tests and documentation are also covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for:

• People who require evidence of a completed TB skin test for admission or continuation in a daycare or pre-school program or a school, community college, university or other educational institution or program (including a work placement that the program may require)
• People who are 65 years of age or younger and need to be admitted to a Long-Term Care Facility

How Can I Access This Service?

In-Clinic

This service is available at all Appletree Medical Centres.
Test available via walk-in only. 

What to Expect During Your Appointment

You will be asked to complete a short health questionnaire that will provide the doctor you are seeing with relevant medical information regarding your health. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test will be performed by injecting a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm.

After Your Appointment

After completion of the test, patients must return within 48 to 72 hours to review their test results and have a trained health care worker look for any reaction on the arm.