What a TB test costs if you have no insurance

The two kinds of TB tests

Tuberculosis, called TB, is a bacterial infection that mainly attacks the lungs. A TB test checks whether the germs that cause it are in your body. MedlinePlus, a health site from the National Library of Medicine, says there are two kinds of tests, a skin test and a blood test.

For the skin test, a health care worker uses a tiny needle to put a little fluid under the skin of your lower arm. The fluid makes a small bump and cannot make you sick. The skin test is also called the Mantoux test or the PPD test.

For the blood test, a health care worker takes a sample of blood from a vein in your arm. Some people call the blood test an IGRA test. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, says it needs only one visit.

The skin test takes two visits

The skin test is not finished on the day you get the shot. You have to go back so that a health care worker can look at your arm and measure any bump. MedlinePlus says to return after 48 to 72 hours, which is two to three days. The CDC says that if you cannot come back in that time, you will need to have the skin test again.

Plan for that second trip, because it can add to the cost and to your time off. Ask whether the price includes the second visit. Also ask what happens if your work schedule makes it hard to come back on the right day. With a blood test, you do not have to make a return trip.

Some people need a two-step skin test. The CDC says that if the first result is negative, a second skin test is done 1 to 3 weeks later. Doctors use it for baseline testing, which is the first round of testing, in people who will be retested over time. Health care workers are one example.

The CDC says a blood test is the preferred test for people who have had the BCG vaccine. That is a TB vaccine that is rarely used in the United States. Neither test can tell you whether an infection is active or inactive.

Jobs and schools often ask for a TB test

The CDC lists employment, school, travel and immigration health screening requirements as reasons that people get a TB test. MedlinePlus lists starting a new job or entering a new school too. Health care workers are tested more often, and so are people who live or work in shelters, nursing homes or jails.

The CDC also says TB tests are generally not needed for people at low risk of infection. If an employer or school asks for a test, ask which kinds of tests they accept and what paperwork they want. You can then pick the test that fits your schedule and your budget.

What health departments charge for a TB test

We could not find a national price list for TB tests, but some local health departments post their own fees. In October 2026 we read the fee pages of four of them. Each fee below is the amount that the department lists on its own page.

• The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department in Ohio lists $20 for a skin test for people without insurance.
• The Salt Lake County Health Department in Utah lists $25 for a skin test and $130 for a blood test.
• The Utah County Health Department in Utah lists $26 for a skin test and $75 for a blood test on its 2026 fee schedule.
• Denver Public Health in Colorado lists $95 for a blood test, and it says it no longer offers skin tests for routine screening.

These fees run from $20 to $26 for a skin test and from $75 to $130 for a blood test. Four places are not a national average, and your own health department may charge more or less. The total can also include a visit fee or a second fee to read a skin test.

For comparison, Medicare is the federal health plan for people 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. Medicare pays set amounts to providers, and those amounts are published each year. These are not cash prices, and a clinic may charge you more or less.

• For the skin test shot (billing code 86580), the 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule pays about $11.
• For one kind of blood test (code 86480), the 2026 Medicare lab fee schedule pays about $62.
• For the other kind of blood test (code 86481), Medicare's 2026 lab fee schedule pays about $100.

The skin test amount does not include the visit to read the result. If a quote is many times higher than the fees above, ask the clinic to explain the charges. Our guide on asking for the cash price shows what to say, and our guide on lab tests without insurance explains how lab pricing works.

Where to get tested for less

The CDC says you can get tested at the health department or at your health care provider's office. To find a location, it says to contact your state or local TB program. Call and ask whether you will be charged, since fees differ from place to place, as the list above shows.

A community health center charges on a sliding scale, which means the fee depends on your income. Ask whether it offers TB tests, since not every center does. Our guides on community health centers and sliding scale clinics explain how to find one. A cash-pay doctor may also order the test for a flat price. Direct primary care usually costs $50 to $200 a month, and you can search for a cash-pay doctor near you.

The steps after the test

The CDC says a negative result means inactive TB or active TB disease is unlikely. Your provider may still order more tests if you have symptoms, HIV or a recent exposure.

A positive result means you should see a clinician for more tests. MedlinePlus says a positive skin test may be followed by a blood test to confirm it. A chest x-ray or a test of the mucus you cough up may come next. Our guide on x-ray costs without insurance explains what drives that price.

Ask each place for a written price before you agree to more testing. If you were tested at a health department, ask what follow-up care it offers.

When to see a doctor right away

MedlinePlus lists symptoms that can come with active TB. One is a cough that lasts longer than three weeks. Others are coughing up blood or thick mucus, chest pain, night sweats, losing weight without trying, fever and tiredness. See a doctor soon if you have these. A test is not a replacement for care.

In an emergency, such as trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. This page gives general information and is not medical advice.