Tuberculosis (TB) Exam Questions and Correct Answers Latest Update (Verified Answers)
1. The right forearm of a client who had a purified protein derivative (PPD) test for tuberculosis
is reddened and raised about 3mm where the test was given. This PPD would be read as having
which of the following results?
A. Indeterminate
B. Needs to be redone
C. Negative
D. Positive 1. C. This test would be classed as negative. A 5mm raised area would be a
positive result if a client was HIV+ or had recent close contact with someone diagnosed with TB.
Indeterminate isn't a term used to describe results of a PPD test. If the PPD is reddened and
raised 10mm or more, it's considered positive according to the CDC.
2. A client with primary TB infection can expect to develop which of the following conditions?
A. Active TB within 2 weeks
B. Active TB within 1 month
C. A fever that requires hospitalization
D. A positive skin test 2. D. A primary TB infection occurs when the bacillus has successfully
invaded the entire body after entering through the lungs. At this point, the bacilli are walled off
and skin tests read positive. However, all but infants and immunosuppressed people will remain
asymptomatic. The general population has a 10% risk of developing active TB over their
lifetime, in many cases because of a break in the body's immune defenses. The active stage
shows the classic symptoms of TB: fever, hemoptysis, and night sweats.
3. A client was infected with TB 10 years ago but never developed the disease. He's now being
treated for cancer. The client begins to develop signs of TB. This is known as which of the
following types of infection?
A. Active infection
B. Primary infection
C. Superinfection
D. Tertiary infection 3. A. Some people carry dormant TB infections that may develop into
active disease. In addition, primary sites of infection containing TB bacilli may remain inactive
for years and then activate when the client's resistance is lowered, as when a client is being
, treated for cancer. There's no such thing as tertiary infection, and superinfection doesn't apply
in this case.
A client has active TB. Which of the following symptoms will he exhibit?
A. Chest and lower back pain
B. Chills, fever, night sweats, and hemoptysis
C. Fever of more than 104*F and nausea
D. Headache and photophobia 4. B. Typical signs and symptoms are chills, fever, night
sweats, and hemoptysis. Chest pain may be present from coughing, but isn't usual. Clients with
TB typically have low-grade fevers, not higher than 102*F. Nausea, headache, and photophobia
aren't usual TB symptoms.
Which of the following diagnostic tests is definitive for TB?
A. Chest x-ray
B. Mantoux test
C. Sputum culture
D. Tuberculin test 5. C. The sputum culture for Myobacterium tuberculosis is the only
method of confirming the diagnosis. Lesions in the lung may not be big enough to be seen on x-
ray. Skin tests may be falsely positive or falsely negative.
A client with a positive Mantoux test result will be sent for a chest x-ray. For which of the
following reasons is this done?
A. To confirm the diagnosis
B. To determine if a repeat skin test is needed
C. To determine the extent of the lesions
D. To determine if this is a primary or secondary infection 6. C. If the lesions are large
enough, the chest x-ray will show their presence in the lungs. Sputum culture confirms the
diagnosis. There can be false-positive and false-negative skin test results. A chest x-ray can't
determine if this is a primary or secondary infection.
1. The right forearm of a client who had a purified protein derivative (PPD) test for tuberculosis
is reddened and raised about 3mm where the test was given. This PPD would be read as having
which of the following results?
A. Indeterminate
B. Needs to be redone
C. Negative
D. Positive 1. C. This test would be classed as negative. A 5mm raised area would be a
positive result if a client was HIV+ or had recent close contact with someone diagnosed with TB.
Indeterminate isn't a term used to describe results of a PPD test. If the PPD is reddened and
raised 10mm or more, it's considered positive according to the CDC.
2. A client with primary TB infection can expect to develop which of the following conditions?
A. Active TB within 2 weeks
B. Active TB within 1 month
C. A fever that requires hospitalization
D. A positive skin test 2. D. A primary TB infection occurs when the bacillus has successfully
invaded the entire body after entering through the lungs. At this point, the bacilli are walled off
and skin tests read positive. However, all but infants and immunosuppressed people will remain
asymptomatic. The general population has a 10% risk of developing active TB over their
lifetime, in many cases because of a break in the body's immune defenses. The active stage
shows the classic symptoms of TB: fever, hemoptysis, and night sweats.
3. A client was infected with TB 10 years ago but never developed the disease. He's now being
treated for cancer. The client begins to develop signs of TB. This is known as which of the
following types of infection?
A. Active infection
B. Primary infection
C. Superinfection
D. Tertiary infection 3. A. Some people carry dormant TB infections that may develop into
active disease. In addition, primary sites of infection containing TB bacilli may remain inactive
for years and then activate when the client's resistance is lowered, as when a client is being
, treated for cancer. There's no such thing as tertiary infection, and superinfection doesn't apply
in this case.
A client has active TB. Which of the following symptoms will he exhibit?
A. Chest and lower back pain
B. Chills, fever, night sweats, and hemoptysis
C. Fever of more than 104*F and nausea
D. Headache and photophobia 4. B. Typical signs and symptoms are chills, fever, night
sweats, and hemoptysis. Chest pain may be present from coughing, but isn't usual. Clients with
TB typically have low-grade fevers, not higher than 102*F. Nausea, headache, and photophobia
aren't usual TB symptoms.
Which of the following diagnostic tests is definitive for TB?
A. Chest x-ray
B. Mantoux test
C. Sputum culture
D. Tuberculin test 5. C. The sputum culture for Myobacterium tuberculosis is the only
method of confirming the diagnosis. Lesions in the lung may not be big enough to be seen on x-
ray. Skin tests may be falsely positive or falsely negative.
A client with a positive Mantoux test result will be sent for a chest x-ray. For which of the
following reasons is this done?
A. To confirm the diagnosis
B. To determine if a repeat skin test is needed
C. To determine the extent of the lesions
D. To determine if this is a primary or secondary infection 6. C. If the lesions are large
enough, the chest x-ray will show their presence in the lungs. Sputum culture confirms the
diagnosis. There can be false-positive and false-negative skin test results. A chest x-ray can't
determine if this is a primary or secondary infection.
