FAQ
- Is it OK to get a TB test while I am breastfeeding?
A: Yes, according to our local Public Health Department, and several reputable OB/GYN physicians, it is perfectly safe to get a PPD while breastfeeding.
- My Father is a physician, is it ok for him to read my PPD?
A: To be consistent, we need to have all TB skin tests read in Employee Health Services. This allows for consistency in both process and follow-through with paperwork.
- Can I have my TB test read in my department? They read patient TB tests.
A: To be consistent, we need to have all TB skin tests read in Employee Health Services. This allows for consistency in both process and follow-through with paperwork.
- What if I do not want to have a PPD test?
A: It is hospital policy to have an annual PPD.
- Can I have a chest x-ray instead of a PPD test? I hate needles.
A: Unfortunately, we need to obtain clearance via PPD unless a note is brought in from your primary care physician stating reasons for not having at PPD.
- I had a BCG vaccine, so I will test positive. Will I need a chest x-ray instead of a Step I PPD test?
A: Not all BCG recipients test positive on their PPD. We need to do a baseline to determine your status.
- Why do I need a Step II PPD? Isn’t one enough?
A: It is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation that all new employees receive a Step II PPD. This way we know all new employees are truly testing negative when they start their employment at LLUMC.
- Why do I need a pertussis vaccine?
A: Pertussis, or whooping cough is caused by bacteria. It is passed from person to person. As children we were all immunized against it but in the past few years there has been an increasing number of adolescents and adults who are becoming infected with it. The symptoms are severe coughing, vomiting, and interrupted sleep. Complications can be severe, requiring hospitalization and can be fatal, especially in young children who have underdeveloped airways and can asphyxiate from the swelling caused by intractable coughing. For these reasons, the CDC has recommended that all adolescents and adults have a booster vaccine against pertussis.
- Will I need another pertussis booster in the future?
A: Unless the guidelines are changed in the future, one booster dose is all that is recommended.
- When will I need another tetanus/diphtheria booster?
A: After the Tdap vaccine, you will be back on your every 10-year schedule for your Td vaccine since the CDC is recommending only one booster vaccine for Tdap.
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