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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Mo. Health Department has suspended skin tests for tuberculosis because of a national shortage of a key ingredient needed for the tests.
National Public Radio reported that a factory in Canada that produces the ingredient ‘tuberculin’ halted production, causing the shortage.
Walk-in skin tests are suspended at the KCMO Health Dept. until further notice, however skin tests will continue for those who are part of ongoing disease investigation because they may have been exposed to tuberculosis.
The Health Department says another option is the T-Spot blood test for tuberculosis, but it costs $100, instead of $20 for the skin test.
