HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

biologic users, do you get an annual TB test?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/16/2014 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Biologic medication users, do you get an annual TB test? My GI and remicade nurse say most insurance are requiring it now. Curious if this is a common practice or not...

Simple epidermal injection under the skin, and then follow up for a reading, so no biggie...
Posted 12/16/2014 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
My insurance required it for approval for Humira (last year) but I don't remember needing it for ongoing use for Remicade but I started Remicade is 2009 so things may have changed since then.

For Simponi I needed a Hep-C test.
Posted 12/16/2014 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I had one when I first started Remicade in 2004. Haven't had once since, even though I was on Humira for 9 years and now Entyvio. Probably would be a good idea to have a follow-up, though I've had plenty of chest x-rays in the past decade.
Posted 12/16/2014 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I had one before I started too. They actually did it with a blood draw this time so I didn't have to go back to get it checked. I was thankful for that, I didn't want to waste time driving around getting a TB test reviewed.
Posted 12/16/2014 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
no, i dont. my doctors don't require it before biologic use. they dont even mention vaccinations either.
Posted 12/16/2014 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting, the remicade nurse said they had a few biologic treatments rejected by insurance companies due to an out of date tb test. They made it sound like it was patients who had been on biologics for over a year.
Posted 12/16/2014 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a yearly skin test ever since I started on Remicade. The TNF blockers can block the immune system factors that keep TB infections inactive, leading to very severe TB illness. The test is to make sure you haven't been exposed, infected and harboring the bacterium.

Interestingly, I just had my annual with my GI and he ordered a Quantiferon gold assay to test for TB. He said it's more accurate because they've found that occasionally Remi will interfere with the reaction to the skin test. I'll get it drawn when my PCP draws my routine quarterly blood tests.
Posted 12/16/2014 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in Canada, I was tested for TB before they even started me on the Humira I was also required to get vaccinations for Hepatitis B and C which I started just before going on Humira and finished up the remainder 2 shots after starting Humira. They did the TB skin test on me so it was a fairly quick test and they do it right at the GI office...I went in and they injected me then I went back a few days later so they could physically view the injection area to determine if I had TB or not. Haven't heard anything more about any TB testing since then but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't test again in the future while I'm on Humira.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply