Quantiferon Gold Test for Tuberculosis

 What is this test?

This is a blood test that can detect the bacteria that causes Tuberculosis.  It is a much better test than the skin test because it can differentiate between the BCG vaccine and tuberculosis bacteria.

How is the test done?

A lab technician will draw a small amount of blood from a blood vessel in your arm.  This sample is sent to a laboratory to check for the tuberculosis bacteria and the results will be available in a few days.

Your lab test will either read:

Negative: This means that no tuberculosis bacteria were detected and no further testing needs to be done.

Positive: This means that at some time in your life you were exposed to the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and you have those bacteria in your blood.  If you test positive you will be informed by a letter from the Student Health Clinic to schedule an appointment with one of the UNI Student Health Clinic Resource Nurses.