The Vanderburgh County Health Department (VCHD) investigates, treats, and manages Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) and Active Tuberculosis (TB) disease in Vanderburgh County residents.  Our services include administering and reading tuberculin skin tests (TST), TST classes for healthcare providers and educational programs for community partners.

*** Please call to schedule an appointment ***

  • Call to schedule an appointment 812-435-2400
  • Tuberculin Skin Tests (TST) cost: $30.00/test (we do not bill insurance for TB services)
  • Fees are payable at the time of service by cash or credit card (debit & credit card payments are assessed a convenience fee)
  • TST Classes for Healthcare Providers: $50.00/participant

What is TB?

  • Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that generally affects the lungs, but can sometimes affect other parts of the body.  TB of the lungs is transmitted person to person from the infected respiratory droplets of a person with active TB disease.  When the infected individual coughs, laughs, sneezes or talks the germs are released into the air. If another person breathes in these germs, there is a chance they will become infected.  TB is NOT spread by shaking hands, sharing utensils or touching bed linens or toilet seats.

Latent TB Infection & Active TB Disease

  • Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes ill. For most people who become exposed to TB bacteria, their body is able to fight the disease and stop the bacteria from growing.  This is called Latent TB Infection (LTBI). People diagnosed with LTBI do not feel sick and cannot spread the bacteria.  However, if TB bacteria become active in the body and multiply, the person develops active (contagious) TB disease.

Signs and Symptoms of TB

General symptoms of TB disease are

  • Feelings of weakness or sickness
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Cough (may contain blood)
  • Chest pain

Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.

Diagnosis and Treatment

  • TB is a treatable and preventable disease. Most people won’t know they have TB unless they are tested.  A skin test is one way to find out if a person has been exposed to TB.  It usually takes 2-10 weeks after exposure for a skin test to be positive.
  • TB testing can be done either by blood or a skin test. This alone does not show active disease. Additional testing, such as a chest x-ray and a sputum sample may be needed to see if you have LTBI or TB disease.
  • If there is a need for treatment, the medication can be supplied by the Indiana Department of Health at no cost.

Case Investigation

  • Any diagnosis of TB requires immediate reporting to VCHD.  Our nurses and staff investigate each report/case of TB disease in the community, workplaces, schools, and other institutional settings and will take the necessary public health interventions to minimize the risk to others.  We also work to stop the spread of the disease by monitoring individuals who have been exposed to the bacteria and those who have active cases of TB.

Additional Resources

How to Report LTBI and TB Disease

Complete the report below and fax to 812-435-6264