Your main options for a TB test

You can get a tuberculosis test at your primary care doctor's office, an urgent care clinic, a public health department, or a community health center. The fastest route depends on whether you need results quickly and whether you have insurance. If you have symptoms or a known exposure, your doctor can order the test same-day in most cases. If you're uninsured or underinsured, your local health department often provides testing free or at low cost.

Two types of TB tests exist: the skin test (also called a Mantoux test or tuberculin skin test) and the blood test (called an interferon-gamma release assay or IGRA). The skin test requires two visits—one to place the test and another 48 to 72 hours later to read the result. The blood test gives results in one to two weeks from a single visit. Your doctor will recommend which one based on your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • Primary care doctors, urgent care clinics, and public health departments all offer TB testing, and your choice depends on cost, speed, and whether you have a regular doctor.
  • The skin test requires two visits 48 to 72 hours apart; the blood test requires one visit but takes one to two weeks for results.
  • Public health departments provide free or low-cost testing regardless of insurance status.
  • If you have symptoms or a known TB exposure, tell the clinic when you call so they can see you quickly and take infection control steps.

Getting tested through your primary care doctor

If you have a regular doctor, calling their office is usually the simplest path. Tell the staff you need a TB test and mention if you have symptoms or a known exposure—this moves you to a faster appointment slot. Most primary care offices can do a skin test on the spot and schedule your follow-up reading for 48 to 72 hours later. If they use the blood test instead, they'll draw blood at your first visit and contact you with results within one to two weeks.

The cost depends on your insurance. If you're insured, you'll typically pay your copay or coinsurance. If you're uninsured, ask the office about their cash price before the visit—it usually ranges from $50 to $150 for the test itself, though this varies by location and whether additional imaging is needed.

Urgent care clinics and walk-in testing

Urgent care centers can perform TB skin tests and blood tests without an appointment. This works well if you need results quickly and don't have a regular doctor. Walk in during their hours, explain you need a TB test, and they'll usually see you within an hour. For the skin test, you'll return 48 to 72 hours later to have the result read—some urgent care centers will read it, but others may direct you back to your primary doctor or to a public health clinic.

Costs at urgent care are higher than at primary care offices or health departments. Expect to pay $100 to $300 out of pocket if uninsured, depending on the clinic and your location. Call ahead if possible to ask about their TB testing process and whether they read skin tests on-site.

Public health departments and community health centers

Your local or county health department provides TB testing free or at a sliding scale based on income, regardless of insurance. This is the most affordable option if you're uninsured or cost is a concern. Call your county health department directly or search online for "[your county] health department tuberculosis testing" to find the nearest clinic and hours. Some departments require an appointment; others accept walk-ins.

Community health centers (Federally may have access to Health Centers, or FQHCs) also offer TB testing on a sliding fee scale. You can find one near you through the Health Resources and Services Administration website or by calling 211. These centers serve uninsured and low-income patients and often have extended hours. Testing timelines are the same as at other clinics—two visits for skin tests, one visit for blood tests.

Workplace and school testing

Many employers require TB testing as part of a pre-employment physical or annual health screening. If your workplace offers this, occupational health or human resources will arrange it, usually at no cost to you. Schools, hospitals, and childcare facilities often require TB testing for staff and students. Contact your employer's occupational health department or your school's health office to learn about testing is available on-site.

If testing is not available through your workplace or school, they should tell you where to go and may reimburse you for the cost. Ask in writing so you have documentation.

What to expect during the test

For a skin test, a nurse injects a small amount of fluid just under the skin on your forearm. You feel a small prick but no pain. You must return 48 to 72 hours later—not sooner, not later—for a nurse to measure any bump or hardening at the injection site. The size of the reaction (if any) determines whether the result is positive, negative, or uncertain. Bring a pen to mark the site so you can find it easily when you return.

For a blood test, a nurse draws blood from your arm into a tube, the same way as any routine blood draw. You'll receive results by phone or through an online patient portal within one to two weeks. Blood tests are more reliable for people who have received the BCG vaccine (common outside the United States) because the vaccine can cause a false-positive skin test.

If you have symptoms or a known exposure

Call ahead before visiting any clinic if you have a cough lasting more than three weeks, fever, night sweats, or weight loss—or if you know you've been exposed to someone with active TB. Tell the staff your symptoms or exposure when you call. They will schedule you at a time when they can isolate you from other patients and take precautions to prevent spread. Do not go to a crowded urgent care or walk-in clinic without calling first; instead, go directly to your primary doctor or health department.

If you have active TB symptoms, the clinic may also order a chest X-ray and sputum test (a sample of mucus you cough up) to check for active disease. These tests help determine whether you have latent TB infection (no symptoms, not contagious) or active TB disease (contagious, requires treatment).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get TB test results?

Skin test results are ready 48 to 72 hours after the second visit. Blood test results take one to two weeks. If you have symptoms, your doctor may order a chest X-ray and sputum test at the same time, which can take a few days longer.

Do I need an appointment or can I walk in?

Primary care offices usually require an appointment, though they may fit you in same-day if you mention symptoms or exposure. Urgent care clinics accept walk-ins. Public health departments vary—call ahead to ask. Community health centers typically accept walk-ins but may have shorter wait times with an appointment.

What if I can't return for the skin test reading after 48 to 72 hours?

The reading must happen within a specific window—too soon and the reaction hasn't fully developed, too late and it fades. If you cannot return at the right time, ask your clinic about the blood test instead, which requires only one visit.

Will the test hurt?

The skin test is a small injection that feels like a pinprick. The blood test is the same as any blood draw. Neither is painful, though some people feel mild discomfort.

Can I get tested if I don't have insurance or money?

Yes. Public health departments and community health centers provide testing free or on a sliding scale based on income. Call your local health department to find the nearest clinic and ask about cost.