Walk-In PPD Test & TB Testing in Pasadena
PPD skin tests, QuantiFERON-Gold blood tests, and chest X-ray clearance, on a walk-in basis seven days a week.
Need a PPD test for work or school? Walk in, no appointment needed. We place PPD skin tests, draw QuantiFERON-Gold blood tests, and take clearance chest X-rays at our clinic at 797 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, close to South Pasadena, San Marino, Altadena, and Alhambra. Because we are open seven days a week (Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; we take our last patient 30 minutes before close), your 48 to 72 hour read always lands on a day we are open. Healthcare workers, caregivers, teachers, and nursing and allied health students use us for every accepted form of TB screening under one roof. Save your spot online or call (626) 304-0404.
The PPD skin test (Mantoux) — and why our hours matter
The PPD is a two-visit test: a tiny amount of tuberculin is placed just under the skin of your forearm, and a trained clinician must examine the site 48–72 hours later to read the result. Miss that window and the test must be repeated from scratch — the classic frustration with clinics that close for the weekend.
We’re open every day of the week (Mon–Fri 8 AM–8 PM, Sat–Sun 9 AM–5 PM), so your 48–72-hour read-back always lands on a day we’re open — place the test on a Thursday or Friday and read it on the weekend, no problem. Walk in for both visits; we’ll document the result on whatever form your employer or school requires.
QuantiFERON®-Gold: the one-visit blood test
Prefer to skip the return trip — or have you had the BCG vaccine? The QuantiFERON-Gold test (an interferon-gamma release assay, or IGRA) is a single blood draw through our on-site laboratory, with results in a few days. Because it is not affected by prior BCG vaccination, it avoids the false-positive skin tests that many internationally raised patients experience, and most employers and schools accept it interchangeably with (or in preference to) the PPD.
Chest X-ray clearance — on-site, same visit
If you’ve had a positive skin test in the past, a history of BCG vaccination, or a positive screening result that needs follow-up, many employers require a chest X-ray clearance showing no active disease. We take digital chest X-rays on-site during the same walk-in visit, the provider reviews them with you, and we complete your clearance paperwork — no second facility, no imaging referral, no waiting days for a report.
What to expect at your TB test visit
- PPD placement (visit 1): a tiny amount of tuberculin is placed just under the skin of your forearm. It takes about a minute.
- Between visits: leave the spot uncovered, do not scratch or rub it, and skip lotion or bandages on it. Normal washing is fine.
- PPD read (visit 2): come back 48 to 72 hours later so a clinician can read the result, and we complete your form.
- QuantiFERON-Gold instead: one blood draw in our on-site lab, with results in a few business days. No return visit for a reading.
- Two-step PPD: if your employer or school requires one, the second test is placed 1 to 3 weeks after the first is read. Every step is walk-in.
- Chest X-ray clearance: taken on site during the same visit when your paperwork requires it.
Who typically needs TB testing
- New employees in healthcare, senior care, and home care
- Teachers, school staff, and childcare workers
- Students entering nursing, medical, dental, and allied-health programs
- Volunteers at hospitals, shelters, and schools
- Anyone with a possible TB exposure or a screening form to complete
Bring your employer’s or school’s form and a photo ID; we’ll complete and sign the documentation the same day the result is read. Many patients use our affordable self-pay pricing for employment and school testing — see the insurance note below for why.
If a test comes back positive
A positive PPD or QuantiFERON does not mean you have active tuberculosis — most positives reflect prior exposure or vaccination. Our providers will evaluate you, obtain a chest X-ray on-site to check for active disease, explain exactly what your result means, and coordinate any treatment or specialist referral you may need.
A note about insurance coverage for work-related testing
Medical insurance is designed to cover medical care — testing and treatment for medical symptoms and health concerns. If your TB screening is required strictly for work, school, or volunteering, and not because of symptoms or a medical exposure, your medical insurance may not cover it, because insurers generally treat employment screening as a work requirement rather than a medical service. That’s why many patients simply use our affordable self-pay pricing for employment testing. Unsure how this applies to you? Call (626) 304-0404 before your visit and we’ll help you understand your options.
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM ·
Saturday–Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
We take our last patient 30 minutes prior to close.
Serving Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, Alhambra, and Eagle Rock · 797 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena · free parking
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get a PPD test near me?
At Advanced Urgent Care of Pasadena, 797 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105. Walk in any day for placement or for your read, no appointment needed.
Can I get a PPD test on the weekend?
Yes. We are open Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for placement or for your read. We take our last patient 30 minutes before close.
What is a two-step PPD test?
Some employers and schools require two skin tests. If the first one is negative, a second test is placed 1 to 3 weeks later and read 48 to 72 hours after that.
What should I avoid after a PPD test is placed?
Leave the spot uncovered, do not scratch or rub it, and do not put lotion or a bandage on it. Normal washing is fine. Come back 48 to 72 hours later so a clinician can read it.
Do I need an appointment for a TB test?
No. Walk in any day for the placement, the blood draw, or the read-back. You can also reserve a time online if you prefer.
When do I come back to have my PPD read?
Between 48 and 72 hours after placement. Because we're open seven days a week, your read-back window always falls on a day we're open, including weekends.
I had the BCG vaccine. Which test should I get?
The QuantiFERON-Gold blood test is usually the better choice: it is not affected by BCG vaccination, so it avoids the false positives BCG can cause on skin tests. If your paperwork requires it, we can also provide chest X-ray clearance on-site.
How fast do I get results?
PPD results are read in person at your 48 to 72 hour return visit. QuantiFERON-Gold results typically return within a few business days. Chest X-rays are reviewed during your visit.
Will you complete my employer's or school's form?
Yes. Bring the exact form (printed or on your phone) and we'll complete, sign, and date it when your result is ready.
Will my insurance cover a TB test for work?
Possibly not. Medical insurance covers medical care for symptoms and health concerns. If your TB test is required strictly for work, school, or volunteering rather than for a medical problem, your insurance may treat it as an employment screening and decline to cover it. Affordable self-pay pricing is available, and most patients use it for employment testing. Call (626) 304-0404 and we'll help you sort out your situation before your visit.