A Conversation Guide for Patients 

How Do I Talk to My Healthcare 

Provider about Inactive Tuberculosis (TB)? 

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Tuberculosis (TB) germs can live in your body for years without causing symptoms. This is 

called inactive TB or latent TB infection. Inactive TB can become active TB disease at anytime 

and make you sick. Once inactive TB becomes active TB disease, TB can spread from person 

to person through the air. Starting a conversation with your doctor is the first step to 

protecting your family, friends, and community from this highly contagious disease. 

Here are some tips for talking with your healthcare provider about inactive TB during 

your next visit. 

1 Think Discuss Your Risk

TB is a leading cause of deaths worldwide, and too many people still suffer from 

TB in the United States. There are several risk factors for TB so it’s important to 

talk with your healthcare provider about your risk. 

Anyone can get TB, but you have a higher risk for TB if you: 

were born in or 

frequently travel to 

countries where TB is 

common, including 

those in Asia, Africa, 

and Latin America 

recently spent time 

with someone who 

has active TB disease 

have a weaker 

immune system 

because of certain 

medications or 

health conditions 

such as diabetes, 

cancer, and HIV 

live or used to live in large work in places with high risk 

group settings where TB for TB transmission, such as 

is more common, such as hospitals, homeless shelters, 

homeless shelters, correctional facilities, and 

prisons, or jails nursing homes 
 

2 Test Understand the Testing Process

There are two types of tests for TB infection. Talk with your healthcare provider about 

which test is best for you. 

Your healthcare provider 

may recommend the TB 

blood test because it can 

be done in one visit, and 

it's more accurate if 

you've been vaccinated 

for TB in the past. The 

blood test measures how 

your immune system 

reacts to the germs that 

cause TB. 

TB Blood Test 

For the skin test, a small 

needle is used to put some 

testing material under the 

skin. You will need to 

return to your healthcare 

provider in 2-3 days to see 

if there is a reaction. 

TB Skin Test 

3 Treat Discuss Treatment Options

If you are diagnosed with inactive TB, there are several short and convenient treatment 

options available that can help protect you from getting sick with active TB disease. 

Here are a few questions to ask your healthcare provider about treatment options: 

• What are the benefits of 

getting treated for inactive TB? 

• Based on my lifestyle and 

personal health history, what 

treatment option would 

you recommend? 

• How often do I need to take 

this medication? And how 

long will I be on it? 

• What are the instructions for 

taking this medication? 

• What are the side effects of 

this medication? 

• What is the cost of this 

medication? Will my insurance 

cover treatment? 

• Are there any community 

resources that can support me 

in my treatment plan? 

Without treatment, 1 in 10 people with inactive TB will get sick in 

the future. Even if you feel healthy now, inactive TB can develop 

into active TB disease and make you sick. 

To learn more about TB and how you can protect 

yourself and others, visit www.cdc.gov/thinktesttreattb 

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