[The Antiyuppie]

It’s my understanding that if one was ever exposed to tuberculosis, had an infection, and fought it off, OR took a vaccine used in the third world (not used in the US), that person will test positive. Determining if a person has an active case at that point is far more difficult, expensive, and less accurate. Just great!

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

The Antiyuppie:" Determining if a person has an active case at that point is far more difficult, expensive, and less accurate."

The cheapie test is called a 'tine test', and is routinely administered during a physical exam by a physician.
It is a topical skin test to see if there is any reaction to the slight puncture to the skin, but doesn't draw any blood.
The test is then read by the physician 2-3 days later.
Anyone who has ever been exposed to tuberculosis will test positive , and requires further testing to determine whether the patient is an active carrier, or just exposed.
Medical treatment is expensive .

[pepsionice]

This is true...once diagnosed and given the pill treatment...you will always test positive and it invites a number of questions and issues if you ever get to a second episode of the disease.

I was in the Air Force and spent time in both Central America and Saudi Arabia. After coming back from Desert Storm, they did the skin test on me and confirmed TB. I did the pill business and at the end....I just sat there amazed as I asked the obvious questions and the doctor laid out the future issues for me.

[alexander_busek]

It’s my understanding that if one was ever exposed to tuberculosis, had an infection, and fought it off, OR took a vaccine used in the third world (not used in the US), that person will test positive. Determining if a person has an active case at that point is far more difficult, expensive, and less accurate. Just great!

Correct! This article had the duty to explain the consequences of "testing positive," should have cited - for comparison - corresponding statistics for native U.S. Americans, and should have fully distinguished between "testing positive" and "actively infected / infectious."

Regards,

[servantboy777]

My wife worked for a hospital in the HR dept. for a spell, that is until she learned that a high percentage of Filipino nurses being imported test positive for TB. She then resigned after learning the previous lady in that position contracted TB.

Her job was to help the foreign nurses settle into apartments and set them up.

Yikes!

[Vermont Lt]

My daughter spent a few months in Haiti. She tests positive for all sorts of stuff.

The third world is a place where humans still compete for superiority.