Coccidioidomycosis (alley fever and Tuberculosis Essay

Coccidioidomycosis (alley fever and Tuberculosis - Essay Example T., & Dunning, M. B. 2009). Tuberculin relates to an extract of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is used in the detection of tuberculosis infection. Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) is a form of tuberculin which is made of a combination of complex mixtures of antigens. PPD functions by creating a mild as well as delayed allergic reaction that takes place among patients likely to be infected by Tuberculosis. The test is usually conducted by injecting a lower level of fluid into the skin located in the lower section of the arm. The swelling on the arm is then checked after a period between 48 and 72 hours for any reaction to the skin. Its size is measured using a ruler and the doctors use the measurement for their analysis based on well known established facts. Positive tuberculin test is between 5, 10 and 15mm. The size of the swelling will help in finding out if the person has already been infected by the disease or is at risk of being infected. Positive skin test is an indication of infection by the tuberculosis bacteria while a negative skin test is an indication of absence of the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis. The test is however limited in some cases especially where it had been used before on the same individual. It is worth noting that the test cannot be fully relied upon but must be supported by other tests such as the blood test in order to establish if the disease is latent or active. The blood test necessary for tuberculosis is known as Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) which exists in two forms namely QuantiFERON-TB and T-SPOT. Sputum cultures as well as smears tests are conducted for acid-fast bacilli in circumstances in which a patient undergoing the test is producing a lot of sputum. The method can be achieved through fluorescence microscopy. The disease which is caused by a fungal infection is can be diagnosed through a number of ways which include blood tests, sputum test, chest X-ray among other methods.