Think back to childhood—do you remember getting your forearm pricked with a little four-pronged device that looked like a round plug? That was the periodic tuberculosis (TB) test you probably got at your doctor’s office or at school. Although TB continues to pose a significant health threat for some groups of children, universal screening (testing every child) is no longer recommended for U.S. children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends testing KidsHealth Guide for Parent244 sonly children considered to be at higher risk for TB infection. Some states, schools, and child-care programs, however, may require TB testing of all children.

The four-pronged plug, however, is outmoded. The current TB test, the Mantoux test, uses a small needle to inject an extract of the TB germ Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the skin of the forearm. The test is read by looking for swelling at the injection site two to three days later. To ensure accurate interpretation, only a trained health care provider should read the test. If your child’s test is positive, the doctor will make sure that your child gets any additional testing or treatment necessary.