Question

What are the two disadvantages of TST for TB diagnosis?

1) High false positive rate
2) Requires multiple visits for testing
3) Low sensitivity
4) Expensive and time-consuming

Answer 1

The two disadvantages of using the tuberculin skin test (TST) for TB diagnosis are high false positive rate and requires multiple visits for testing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two disadvantages of using the tuberculin skin test (TST) for TB diagnosis are:

1. High false positive rate: The TST can sometimes produce false positive results, meaning that it may indicate a person is infected with TB when they are not actually infected. This can lead to unnecessary additional testing and treatment.
2. Requires multiple visits for testing: The TST requires two visits, one for the initial test and another for the reading of the test results. This can be inconvenient for patients and may lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

It's important to note that while the TST is widely used for TB screening, it does have limitations and may not be the most accurate or efficient diagnostic tool.