Quick answer
The Mantoux Test (Tuberculin Skin Test) costs ₹180 at Live Line Health Care. A skin test for exposure to TB bacteria. No fasting is needed. It uses a skin test and the report is usually ready within 48–72 hours. It is done at a Live Line centre, not at home, and 45 centres offer it.
Also known as: Tuberculin Skin Test, TST, PPD Test, PPD Skin Test, TB Skin Test, Tuberculin Test
What is the Mantoux Test?
The Mantoux test, also called the tuberculin skin test or TST, checks whether your immune system has met the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. A trained staff member injects a tiny amount of purified protein derivative (PPD) just under the skin of your forearm. If your body has been exposed, immune cells gather at that spot over the next two days and form a firm, raised area called an induration. Because the injection is given in person and the arm has to be examined later, this test is done only at a centre and cannot be booked as home collection.
You need to come back after 48 to 72 hours so the swelling can be measured in millimetres. Only the firm raised part is counted, not any redness around it. A positive result shows past or present exposure to TB, but it cannot separate latent infection from active disease. The other TB tests have different jobs: the TB Gold blood test also measures exposure but needs just one visit, while Sputum AFB and TB PCR look for the bacteria in a cough sample when active lung TB is suspected.
What it measures: The delayed skin reaction to tuberculin (PPD), recorded as the width of the firm swelling in millimetres.
Parameters included (2)
- Induration Size (mm)
- Interpretation: Positive or Negative
Why is this test done?
- After close contact with someone who has active TB
- Screening for latent TB before steroids, biologics, a transplant or other immune-lowering treatment
- Part of the assessment of a child with long cough, fever or poor weight gain
- Job or admission screening for health workers and students
- Investigating unexplained fever or swollen glands along with other tests
When should you get tested?
- No symptoms at all, but a known exposure to TB
- Cough lasting more than 2 weeks
- Evening fever and night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss and poor appetite
- Swollen glands in the neck
How to prepare for the Mantoux Test
- 1Fasting is unnecessary. Wear loose sleeves so your forearm is easy to reach.
- 2Plan your return visit before booking, because the reading must happen 48 to 72 hours after the injection.
- 3Do not scratch, rub, bandage or put cream on the spot. Normal bathing is fine.
- 4Tell the staff about recent live vaccines such as MMR, steroid medicines, HIV, past TB, or any strong reaction to an earlier Mantoux.
Mantoux Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| Expected result in most adults | Negative: induration below 10 mm |
| Positive | Induration of 10 mm or more |
| Positive with low immunity | Induration of 5 mm or more, for example in people living with HIV |
| Redness alone | Not counted. Only the firm raised swelling is measured |
Cut-offs depend on your personal risk and on current guidance, so your doctor’s interpretation takes precedence. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- A positive test means you have been exposed to TB at some time. It does not by itself show active disease, so your doctor may order a chest X-ray and, if you have symptoms, sputum tests.
- The BCG vaccine, routinely given at birth in India, and contact with other mycobacteria can both cause a positive reaction, which is usually smaller.
- A negative test does not always rule out TB. Weak immunity, severe illness, poor nutrition or an infection in the last 2 to 8 weeks can all hide the reaction.
- Show a doctor if the spot blisters, breaks open or becomes very swollen. Strong reactions can occur and may need care.
Mantoux Test – FAQs
What is the price of the Mantoux Test?
The Mantoux Test (Tuberculin Skin Test) costs ₹180 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres.
How long does the Mantoux test take to show a result?
The injection takes a few minutes, but the reaction needs time to develop. Your arm is read 48 to 72 hours later, when the swelling is measured. A test that is left unread beyond this period is less reliable.
What size of Mantoux reaction is positive?
In India, a firm swelling of 10 mm or more is generally read as positive. For people with low immunity, such as those living with HIV, 5 mm or more may count. Redness does not count, only the raised, hard area.
Does a positive Mantoux test mean I have TB?
No. It means your immune system has met TB bacteria, or a related germ, at some time. Many people with a positive test have no active disease. Your doctor will use symptoms, a chest X-ray and sputum tests to decide.
Does the BCG vaccine affect the Mantoux test?
It can. BCG may cause a positive reaction, particularly in the years after vaccination, though it usually fades and tends to be smaller. If this confuses your result, your doctor may suggest the TB Gold blood test, which BCG does not normally affect.
Mantoux or TB Gold: which one is right for me?
Both look for TB exposure, not active disease. Mantoux needs two visits and can be influenced by BCG. TB Gold needs one blood sample but is a higher-cost test. Your doctor will choose based on age, immunity and the reason for testing.
What if I cannot come back within 72 hours?
Contact your centre as soon as you know. A reading done much later may not be accurate, and the test may have to be repeated. Do not try to measure the swelling yourself, since trained staff need to feel its edges.
Where can I get the Mantoux Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore. This test is done at a centre, not at home.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.