Shoebill Co-Traveller | Shoebill Health Care

Tuberculosis Tests (TB Tests)

Ｏffer both TB skin test and blood test, along with the required medical certification.

Tuberculin Skin Test (Mantoux Test)

If the result is positive, a follow-up chest x-ray and doctor consultation may be necessary to exclude active TB disease.

$1250

  • Assessment of test requirement
  • Administering tuberculin skin test
  • Reviewing results between 48-72 hours
  • Medical certificate

Additional Test

Two-step tuberculin skin test (Two-step Mantoux Test)
+$1050

Additional Items

Completing travel / migrant / school health form
+$200
Chest x-ray + Doctor follow-up (if test positive)
+$650

TB Blood Test (IGRA)

If the result is positive, a follow-up chest x-ray and doctor consultation may be necessary to exclude active TB disease.

$2800

  • Assessment of test requirement
  • Blood taking *Only available before 4pm Monday to Friday (not the eve of public holiday)*
  • Reviewing test results
  • Medical certificate

Additional Items

Completing travel / migrant / school health form
+$200
Chest x-ray + Doctor follow-up (if test positive)
+$650

FAQ

TB skin test, is used to determine whether someone is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. Many international universities require individuals residing in countries with higher incidence of TB to undergo this test. To learn more, check out our dedicated article TB Skin Test in Hong Kong: Everything You Need to Know for Studying Abroad.

TB skin test can be given to most people, including infants, children, pregnant women, and individuals with HIV. However, if someone has had severe reactions to previous TB skin test, they should not take it again.

Avoid getting a TB skin test if you have received live attenuated vaccines, such as MMR, chickenpox, yellow fever, BCG, nasal spray flu vaccine, Japanese encephalitis, or oral typhoid, within the past 4 weeks. These vaccines can impact the accuracy of the TB skin test.

To ensure accurate TB skin test results, you can have the test and live vaccine on the same day, or do the test 28 days after receiving the live vaccine.

Some countries, like Canada, may require 2-step TST as proof of testing. This is because a person's TST reaction may become less sensitive over time, leading to a false negative on the first test. The benefit of conducting 2-step TST is that the first test can stimulate the immune response, making the second test more accurate.

A positive TB test result means you have been infected with TB bacteria, but it does not confirm active TB disease. If the result is positive, you may need a chest x-ray and a consultation with a doctor to rule out active TB disease. A negative result indicates that you are less likely to have TB.

The Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) is an advanced blood test used to detect tuberculosis (TB) infection. It measures the immune system’s response to TB-specific antigens, indicating whether a person has been infected with the bacteria that cause TB. To learn more, check out our dedicated article Tuberculosis Blood Test (IGRA / QuantiFERON).

  • Higher accuracy: IGRA is not affected by the BCG vaccine or most non-TB mycobacteria, reducing false-positive results.
  • Ideal for: People who have received the BCG vaccine or those with weakened immune systems.

No. IGRA requires only a standard blood draw—no fasting or medication adjustments are needed.