Student Health Center

Tuberculosis Requirements

What is Tuberculosis

Requirements for Domestic Students

Requirements for International Students

Tuberculosis Testing is offered at the ISU Student Health Center for a small fee.  The Quantiferon Blood Test is also available for a fee.

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.

The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.

TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection.

People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their bodies, but they are not sick because the germs are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and they cannot spread the germs to others. However, they may develop TB disease in the future. They are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB disease.

People with TB disease are sick from TB germs that are active, meaning that they are multiplying and destroying tissue in their body. They usually have symptoms of TB disease. People with TB disease of the lungs or throat are capable of spreading germs to others. They are prescribed drugs that can treat TB disease.  

Domestic Student Requirements

Domestic Students are required by the university to have a Tuberculosis Skin Test done within 6 months of coming to Indiana State University.

Tuberculosis Skin tests are done on Monday, Tuesday and Friday because you must return in three days to have the test interpreted or read.  The cost of the TB Skin test is $6.00.

If you fail to have the test read on the proper day, you will have to have it repeated.

If the TB skin test is positive, the student will be sent to the lab for a Quantiferon Blood test.  If the blood test result is also positive the student will have a chest x-ray and be referred for prophylactic therapy.

International Student Requirements

All international students coming to Indiana State university are required to have a Quantiferon blood test for Tuberculosis.

The blood test is drawn in the lab at the Student Health Center on Monday through Thursday.  (from 9am - 4pm)  The quantiferon test can not be drawn on Fridays.

The results will come to the Student Health center and the international student will be notified.  If the result is positive, the student will be required to have a chest x-ray and further lab work.

If the Chest x-ray rules out active disease the student will be referred to the Vigo County Health Department where  the will receive medication to be taken daily for a period of 6 to 12 months.