BCG vaccine can cause a false positive for tuberculosis

By

Community

October 29, 2019 - 9:56 AM

Dear Dr. Roach: Can you please speak about the BCG vaccine? My daughter was born in Bolivia and received it as an infant. Now she always tests positive for tuberculosis, and people in the medical field never seem to know or understand when we explain about the vaccine. It’s such a hassle to get straightened out. — M.P.A.

 

Answer: Bacille Calmette-Guerin is a common cause of false positive tuberculosis tests. BCG is a vaccine strain of bacteria similar to tuberculosis that many countries use to reduce the risk of developing this very infectious disease. It is…

Related
August 30, 2024
November 10, 2021
November 7, 2019
September 23, 2019