Tuberculosis Service (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that can affect any part of the body but is often found in the lungs and may be infectious.

Symptoms may include:

• a productive cough that lasts for more than three weeks
• coughing up blood
• unexplained weight loss
• night sweats
• tiredness and fatigue
• new swellings that haven't gone away after a few weeks

TB can be cured but treatment is essential and requires a combination of antibiotics that will last for at least 6 months. Treatment is free for everyone and is provided by the hospital. If you are diagnosed with TB we may offer TB screening to those within your household and sometimes we will screen others you may have had contact with too. This will be discussed with you when you start treatment.

Travelling abroad? Need a TB test for a visa?

Working in healthcare and want to protect yourself or your staff?

The TB Service is able to provide a range of tests and treatments to give you reassurance and protection for whatever lies ahead.

We are a friendly NHS team offering a comprehensive service which provides for all aspects of TB care throughout Nottinghamshire.

This includes:

• BCG vaccination if clinically appropriate
• TB screening
• Treatment for active TB and latent TB infection
• Management and support throughout TB treatment
• Contact tracing
• Advice for health care workers and the general public

We work in partnership with Public Health to protect and promote the health of our city.

If you have symptoms (a persistent cough lasting more than 3 weeks, coughing up blood, weight loss, night sweats, generally unwell and fatigue) and are concerned that you may have TB please make an appointment to see your GP as soon as possible. Your GP may want to send sputum samples and do other investigations before they make a referral.

If you require screening for TB we are able to offer two services to help.

The service now offers a new IGRA test (Quantiferon Gold Test) which can be done in one visit to our clinic. It involves a blood test and the results can be available from 7-10 days with a letter.

Alternatively, we also offer the standard Mantoux test (tuberculin skin test). This involves two visits. The first visit involves a small injection being given just under the surface of the skin. The second visit is 48-72 hours later and we obtain a reading and complete any relevant documents for you. The results are provided there and then.

A positive result does not necessarily mean that you have active TB or are infectious but it may mean that you have latent TB and you could be offered treatment to prevent TB from developing in the future.

 

Costs

IGRA (Quantiferon Gold Test) - £140

Mantoux Test - £105

For more information or to book an appointment with our service please contact the team on 0115 9628051.

Contact us

Tel: 0115 962 8051
TB service fax: 0115 9628075

 

Our location

TB Service
City Hospital
David Evans Building
Hucknall Road
Nottingham
NG5 1PB