I Received a BCG Vaccine, Do I Still Need Latent TB Testing and Treatment?

In this short video geared towards primary care physicians, we model how to discuss testing and treatment for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection with your patient who has received a BCG vaccine. Worldwide, the BCG vaccine is given to protect people from TB, but is not completely effective! The TB blood test (interferon gamma release assay or IGRA) will not be falsely positive due to prior BCG vaccine, so a person with a positive blood test should be evaluated for TB disease and then treated for latent TB, even if they have received BCG. Educate patients that BCG does not protect them from TB infection!