I'm happy to report that my quest for TB shot (aka skin test) alternative has been a success. I have found a safe and a lot less harmful blood test available as of 2001 for anyone who asks, but it wasn't easy. And you have to ask for it.

The name of this test is Quantiferon TB gold blood test, and, unlike the TB skin test where TB bacteria is injected under your skin along with highly toxic chemical phenol (and god knows what else), the blood test experiments are done outside your body. All you need to do is draw blood, which, however unpleasant, is much safer.

Unfortunately, not all doctors know about this test as they have been conditioned to refer anyone seeking TB test to the TB skin test (aka the injection).

I have visited a Qwick Health clinic in San Mateo, CA and the doctor there didn't mention anything about the blood test. He was trying to convince me that TB shot is ordinary and there is really nothing else I could do to determine whether or not I have tuberculosis. Maybe the Xrays?

I called the South San Francisco Health Center and again, the nurse on the phone told me that there is NO TB Blood test.

It was the UCSF medical school who told me about it. After a little bit of research I found that the Quantiferon TB gold blood test has been approved by FDA in 2001 and is "A much safer, more accurate, quicker, and convenient blood test."[Child Health Guide 2005].

So I called the Seton Hospital Lab and asked if they offered this test. The answer was yes, but I needed to be referred by a doctor. When I went to a Rotto Care clinic operated in the same building as Seton Hospital to get the referral, I was told again, there isn't such a test.

I insisted that they call the lab and ask for it. The nurse dialed the number and with a look of surprise on her face, hung up the phone and said "ok then, you have found yourself a neat little test".

Yes I did.

And now you know about it too. Take your child to do this test instead. Please spread the word.