TB Testing in Pasadena: PPD Skin Tests, QuantiFERON‑Gold, and Chest X‑Ray Clearance
Every form of TB test your employer or school can ask for — on a walk-in basis, seven days a week.
Starting a healthcare job, a caregiving position, a teaching role, or a nursing or allied-health program? Sooner or later a form lands in your hands demanding proof of tuberculosis screening — usually on a deadline. At Advanced Urgent Care of Pasadena we offer all three accepted forms of TB testing under one roof, with no appointment needed: the classic PPD skin test, the QuantiFERON®-Gold blood test, and chest X-ray clearance when it’s required.
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.
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
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 48–72-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.