Tuberculosis Clinic
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by germs (bacteria) that generally attack the lungs. The germs are spread through the air, when a person with active TB disease coughs, sneezes, speaks or even laughs and the bacteria is inhaled by another person. These germs can stay in the air for several hours depending on the environment. People are most likely to become infected with TB if they spend many hours in close contact (family members or co-workers) with someone infected with active TB disease. Though TB is a serious disease, it can be treated with medication.
Services provided
Screening for persons that have been in contact with active TB disease. Treatment and case management of persons with either latent TB infection or active TB disease. You will be notified if you are part of a contact investigation and should be seen in our clinic.
- Services by referral from patient's clinic or hospital.
- Services available by appointment only.
- Parents or guardians must accompany those under 18 years old.
- Bring photo ID and insurance card.
- Billing is available for Medical Assistance (MA) and some insurances.
Location
Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health Center
555 Cedar Street, Saint Paul MN 55101
Metro Transit buses and Green Line stop near the clinic. Free parking is available in the back lot. Parking meters are on surrounding streets.
Types of tests
If you suspect you have been exposed to TB disease, you should go to your doctor or local health department to be tested for TB.
TB Skin Test (Mantoux)
An injection of a small amount of fluid (called tuberculin) into the skin in the lower part of the arm. Your arm is checked 48-72 hours later by a trained health care worker - they will be looking for a reaction (raised bump) in the injection site.
TB Mantoux Fact Sheets available in PDF format:
TB Blood Test
A blood test that measures how your immune system reacts to the germs that cause TB.
If your test comes back positive, it tells you that you have been infected with TB germs. Other tests, such as chest x-rays and a sputum sample will determine if you have active TB disease.
TB Blood Test Fact Sheets available in PDF format:
Pre-employment or school testing
If you need a TB skin test (mantoux test) or chest x-ray for pre-employment or post-secondary school, these services are NOT provided at the TB clinic and are available at the following community clinics:
Open Cities Health Center
409 Dunlap Street, Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-290-9200
Services provided: TB skin tests
West Side Community Health Center
153 Cesar Chavez Street, Saint Paul, MN 55107
651-222-1816
Services provided: TB skin tests and chest x-rays
McDonough Homes Clinic, McDonough Community Center
1544 Timberlake Road, Saint Paul, MN 55117
651-558-2191
Services provided: TB skin tests
East Side Family Clinic
895 East 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106
651-772-9799
Services provided: TB skin tests and chest x-rays
United Family Medicine
1026 West 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
651-241-1000
Services provided: TB skin tests and chest x-rays
Minute Clinics (Target and CVS Pharmacies)
1-866-389-2727
Services provided: TB skin tests
Latent infection vs. active disease
Latent TB Infection (LTBI):
- TB germs are in your body, but you are not sick because the germs are not active. These germs are currently "sleeping", but they are still alive. They will remain asleep as long as your body can fight them off.
- You cannot spread these germs to others.
- The length of time the TB germs can stay asleep varies. To help protect yourself from these germs "waking up", you may be given medications to kill the germs.
- If the TB germs "wake up" and begin to grow and spread in your body; you have Active TB disease.
Active TB Disease (TB Disease):
- TB germs are active in your body, meaning they are "waking up", multiplying and spreading.
- You have symptoms of TB disease (cough lasting more than 3 weeks, weight loss, poor appetite, sweating at night, fever, chills, feeling tired or weak, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or brown-colored material from your lungs).
- You can spread germs to others through the air (coughing, sneezing or talking).
- You are prescribed drugs (for 6-12 months) that can treat TB disease.
- You must take all your medication correctly, if not, you could become sick again, become resistant to your medication (your medication won't work), or your TB could come back stronger. If this happens you will have to take stronger medication for a longer time.
- In some situations, local health departments meet regularly with patients to watch them take their medication - this is called directly observed therapy (DOT).
Learn more about TB
Definitions of disease, symptoms, prevention and informational materials:
World TB Day
Each year, we recognize World TB Day on March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB). World TB Day is a day to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world.