What is the test ?
You can be screened for TB with a chest X-ray.
Why do this test ?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease that affects the lungs and other parts of the body.
Who should do this test ?
You do not need to go for yearly chest X-ray if you have no symptoms as the pick-up rate for TB is very low.
You should however, go for a chest X-ray if you have persistent cough for more than 3 weeks.
Close contacts ( eg relatives) of infectious TB patients should undergo screening for hidden TB infection. This helps to identify persons for treatment to prevent the progression to active TB disease. Close contacts are screened for latent TB infection using the tuberculin skin test.
