TB TEST Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield TB TEST facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. When a healthcare worker is newly diagnosed with active TB disease, what is the employer's regulatory obligation? → Notify OSHA and the local health department, and remove the worker from patient care
2. After correctly placing a TST, the nurse observes no bleb (wheal) at the injection site. What action is most appropriate? → Repeat the test immediately at a site at least 2 inches from the first
3. Accreditation standards for TB testing programs typically require that PPD tuberculin be stored at which temperature range? → Refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (35°F to 46°F)
4. Which profession most commonly requires TB test certification? → Healthcare Workers
5. Pulmonary TB is considered potentially infectious until the patient has met all of the following EXCEPT: → TST converts from positive to negative
6. Which of the following is NOT typically a component of a TB test administrator's credential requirements? → Completion of a cardiology fellowship
7. What term describes TB that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin? → Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)
8. Which regulation governs the importation of TB-infected animals or biological specimens into the United States? → CDC/HHS import regulations under 42 CFR Part 71
9. Which high-risk group uses a ≥5 mm induration cutoff for a positive TST? → HIV-positive individuals
10. When a state's nurse practice act is silent on TB test administration by MAs, who sets the governing standard? → The employing facility or supervising physician
11. A patient with suspected pleural TB has a pleural effusion. Which single test has the highest diagnostic yield for pleural TB? → Pleural fluid ADA (adenosine deaminase) level
12. What is the regulatory basis for requiring HEPA filtration in rooms where TB patients are isolated in US hospitals? → CDC/HICPAC infection control guidelines and AIA/FGI facility guidelines
13. How often must healthcare workers who use N95 respirators for TB patient care undergo respirator fit testing, per OSHA requirements? → Annually, and whenever respirator model or facial features change
14. Which aspect of TB test administration training addresses what to do if a patient reports a history of a severe reaction to TST? → Contraindication and risk assessment protocols
15. Which organization provides global ethical standards for TB testing? → World Health Organization (WHO)
16. Which respirator is the minimum standard for entering the room of a suspected active TB patient? → N95 respirator
17. Which information is LEAST critical to include when documenting an IGRA result? → The patient's favorite physician
18. Which IGRA result pattern indicates a borderline or indeterminate finding that requires retesting? → IFN-γ nil ≥8 IU/mL causing invalid background
19. A patient with a 14mm induration on TST has no risk factors and was born in a low-prevalence country. How should this result be interpreted? → Negative — threshold for low-risk individuals is 15mm
20. What is a key operational benefit of accreditation for a clinic that offers TB testing services? → It demonstrates adherence to evidence-based standards, building patient and employer trust
21. Why is proper documentation important in TB testing? → To meet legal and regulatory requirements
22. Which imaging finding on chest X-ray is most characteristic of primary TB infection in children? → Hilar lymphadenopathy
23. Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'interrater reliability' in the context of TB testing quality assurance? → The degree to which different readers measure and record TST induration consistently
24. A laboratory worker accidentally breaks a vial of live Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Under which regulatory framework must this incident be reported? → Under CDC/USDA Select Agent Program regulations for select agent exposure incidents
25. In extrapulmonary TB, which diagnostic approach is most reliable for confirming TB lymphadenitis? → Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) with culture
26. A serial TST program documents a healthcare worker's TST increasing from 0mm to 10mm over a 2-year period. CDC defines TST conversion as: → Any increase of ≥5mm in TST induration within a 2-year period
27. A long-term care facility must report a confirmed active TB case to: → The local or state health department
28. Under CDC guidelines, which group requires a two-step TST baseline when starting employment in a healthcare setting? → Adults who have not had a documented TST within the past 12 months
29. Why do accreditation bodies specifically require facilities to use only FDA-approved tuberculin products for TST programs? → To ensure product safety, potency standardization, and reliable, reproducible test results
30. Which best describes the principle of 'justice' as it applies to TB testing programs? → Ensuring equitable access to TB testing regardless of socioeconomic status or background