Testing for TB Infection -TB skin and blood tests

The TB skin test and the Interferon Gamma Release Assay-Quantiferon (IGRA-QFT) blood test are used to determine if a person has been exposed and infected with TB germs. The TB skin test is not a vaccine.

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

  • People who are identified by public health as contacts of a person with infectious TB disease.
  • 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) or for admission into a long-term care facility.
  • People who require TB testing for a medically necessary purpose e.g. chemotherapy or biologic agent.
  • People who have a high risk of TB reactivation, for example, . newcomers who are from a TB endemic (TB incidence ≥50/100,000) country and have been in Canada for <2years.

*NOTE: International students requiring a TB skin test for educational purposes may use the publicly funded Tubersol for the test, however the administration of the test and completion of the form must be paid out of pocket.

A TB skin test is covered by OHIP when a physician determines it is medically necessary in the following scenarios. However, documentation related to the test is not covered.

  • The receipt of disability or sickness benefits or the satisfaction of a condition relating to the disability or sickness benefits.
  • Return to a day care of pre-school program, after a temporary absence.
  • A condition relating to fitness to continue employment other than a condition that requires an examination or assessment to be conducted on an annual or other periodic basis;
  • An absence from or return to work;
  • Legal proceedings.

A TB skin test and documentation are not covered under OHIP for the following scenarios:

  • Employment and volunteering
  • Travel

The cost of a TB skin test varies. Call your health care provider, local walk-in-clinic or community health centre to ask about the cost. If you are a student, check with your school’s health services department about getting a TB skin test.

For more information regarding your OHIP coverage, call the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care INFO line: 1-800-664-8988

Toronto Public Health provides free TB skin tests:

  • For identified contacts of a person with infectious TB disease
  • For homeless/underhoused persons

Toronto Public Health does not provide TB skin tests for people who need them as a requirement for employment or volunteering.

You can get a TB skin test for work, school or volunteering at:

Call ahead of time to make sure they have the Tubersol available.

Small raised red area on fore-arm
TB Skin Test Results

The TB skin test result must be checked after 48-72 hours of testing. A positive skin test shows you have TB infection. More tests will be done to screen for TB disease to make sure that the TB bacteria is not active. These tests usually include a check-up for signs and symptoms of TB disease, a chest x-ray, and sputum collection.

Once your health care provider determines that you do not have TB disease, ask about the free medication to prevent you from getting TB disease in the future. This medication is free through Toronto Public Health.

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is a vaccine for Tuberculosis (TB). It was first used in 1921 and is still used today in many TB endemic countries. It has been discontinued in many industrialized countries because of low TB rates.

In Canada, the vaccine is currently only given to people groups where high rates of TB is found. For example, newborns and infants living on First Nation and Inuit communities.

The BCG does not provide lifelong protection from TB infection or TB disease. The BCG is most protective against certain types of TB in infants and young children. However, as a person gets older, the protective effect of the vaccine decreases with time.

Getting the BCG vaccine as a baby will not result in a positive TB skin test as an adult. It is okay to get a TB skin test can even though a person has had a BCG vaccination in the past.

  • The Interferon Gamma Release Assay-Quantiferon (IGRA-QFT) blood test is a highly sensitive test used to diagnosis TB infection. The IGRA-QFT test can differentiate a BCG vaccine response from a TB exposure-response.
  • The IGRA-QFT test commonly used in Ontario is called the Quantiferon TB Gold (QFT) test. The IGRA-QFT test is not covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The IGRA-QFT test can be done at: