Vaccination – Tb Screening BCG

Written by the Veritas Pharmacy clinical team. Address: 113 Chester Road, Sunderland. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, registration number 9012617.

A letter asking for a tuberculosis test, or for confirmation of a Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination, can raise more questions than it answers. Which test is being asked for? Do you need one, or both? At Veritas Pharmacy, we offer a blood test, a skin test, and the vaccine itself, and help you work out which one actually applies to you, for work, study, travel, or a visa application.

What is tuberculosis, and why is screening needed?

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. Most people who come into contact with the bacteria never become unwell from it. Instead, the bacteria can remain inactive in the body for years, a state known as latent tuberculosis. Screening checks for this inactive infection, long before it could ever cause symptoms.

People most often need screening for practical reasons rather than because they feel unwell, including starting a new role in healthcare or social care, enrolling on a university or nursing course, applying for a United Kingdom visa, or preparing to travel or work somewhere tuberculosis is more common.

Two ways to screen for latent tuberculosis

Both of the following tests check for the same thing, a latent infection, but they work differently, and paperwork from an employer, course, or visa application sometimes names one specifically.

The tuberculosis blood test

A single blood sample is taken and sent for laboratory analysis, with results typically available within a few days. This is often the quickest route where only one visit is practical, such as for employment, study, or visa requirements.

The Mantoux skin test

A small injection is given just under the skin of the forearm, and the site is then checked in person two to three days later, at a second appointment. Some occupational health and visa requirements name the Mantoux test specifically, so it is worth checking your paperwork before booking. If you are working towards having the vaccine, the Mantoux test is generally the screening test recommended for that purpose.

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine

This vaccine offers added protection against the more severe forms of tuberculosis, and is offered selectively to people at higher risk of exposure, based on factors such as occupation, family background, or where someone will be living or studying. It was once given routinely to secondary school children in the United Kingdom, but this stopped in 2005 as general population tuberculosis rates fell.

Because this is a live vaccine, the Mantoux skin test is usually needed first, following current national guidance, unless you already have a clear vaccination scar or documented vaccination history that your pharmacist can confirm at your appointment. A negative screening result is reviewed by your pharmacist rather than treated as automatic clearance, before the vaccine is booked as a separate appointment.

The vaccine is not suitable during pregnancy, since it is a live vaccine, and would need to be postponed until afterwards. A small blister is expected shortly after vaccination, which may develop into a small sore over several weeks before healing into a small scar. This is a normal part of the vaccine working, not a sign of a problem.

How the screening and vaccination pathway fits together

1. Book a screening test. Most people start with either the blood test or the Mantoux skin test, depending on what an employer, course, or visa paperwork specifically asks for. If you are working towards the vaccine, the Mantoux test is usually the appropriate starting point.
2. Get your result. Blood test results are usually ready within a few days. Mantoux results are read in person, two to three days after the injection.
3. The vaccine, if needed. A clear screening result does not automatically mean the vaccine goes ahead. Your pharmacist reviews your result and confirms whether the vaccine is appropriate, before it is booked as a separate appointment.
4. Documentation. Your pharmacist can provide written confirmation of your result or vaccination for your employer, institution, or visa application, where needed.

Pricing

Prices are subject to change, so please confirm current pricing at the clinic before booking.

• Tuberculosis blood test: £200, in one visit. This includes both the laboratory test and the blood draw itself, with no separate consultation charge.
• Mantoux skin test: £95, across two visits.
• Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine: £120, in one visit.

How to book your appointment

Booking takes a couple of minutes online, or you can call the clinic directly to check which pathway is right for you first. We are open seven days a week, from 9 o’clock in the morning until 5 o’clock in the evening, excluding bank holidays.

For further detail on either service, see the tuberculosis blood test or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine pages.

Frequently asked questions about tuberculosis screening and vaccination

Related reading: More Vaccinations articles · Travel Vaccinations and Health Advice