TB exposure occurs when a person shares air with someone who has active infectious TB disease. You may have been exposed to TB if you spent time near someone with TB disease of the lungs or throat. You can only get infected by breathing in TB germs that a person expels into the air. You cannot get TB from someone's clothes, drinking glass, eating utensils, handshake, TOILET, or other surfaces where a TB patient has been. Most people are NEVER exposed to a person with active infectious tuberculosis disease for a period long enough to become infected.

People most likely to become infected are those that share air with a TB case for prolonged period of time, either in a single or group setting. Individuals more likely to be exposed to TB include health care WORKERS, the homeless, persons living or working in congregate or long term care facilities, and persons traveling to or living in countries with high TB prevalence. An ESTIMATED 10-15 million U.S. residents and one-third of the world's population are currently infected with the TB organism. A TB Interferon Gamma Release Assay (blood test) will IDENTIFY TB infection.

TB exposure occurs when a person shares air with someone who has active infectious TB disease. You may have been exposed to TB if you spent time near someone with TB disease of the lungs or throat. You can only get infected by breathing in TB germs that a person expels into the air. You cannot get TB from someone's clothes, drinking glass, eating utensils, handshake, toilet, or other surfaces where a TB patient has been. Most people are never exposed to a person with active infectious tuberculosis disease for a period long enough to become infected.

People most likely to become infected are those that share air with a TB case for prolonged period of time, either in a single or group setting. Individuals more likely to be exposed to TB include health care workers, the homeless, persons living or working in congregate or long term care facilities, and persons traveling to or living in countries with high TB prevalence. An estimated 10-15 million U.S. residents and one-third of the world's population are currently infected with the TB organism. A TB Interferon Gamma Release Assay (blood test) will identify TB infection.