TB skin test and immunity titres in Toronto

Need a TB test in Toronto for school, work or a placement? The two-step Mantoux tuberculin skin test is done at 750 Dundas St W, Toronto. For proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) or varicella (chickenpox), the physician can give you a lab requisition for immune titres, which are blood tests done at a community lab.

Call (416) 681-0444 first to book, and bring the form from your school, college, employer or placement. The form tells the physician exactly which tests are needed.

This page is not medical advice. It explains these tests in general terms. If you are struggling to breathe or feel seriously unwell, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Toronto Western Hospital is directly across the street.

A tuberculin skin test (also called a TST or Mantoux test) is a small injection just under the skin of the forearm. The Canadian Tuberculosis Standards say it should be read 48 to 72 hours after it is placed, so you come back within that window to have it checked.

A two-step test repeats this. If the first test is not positive, the standards say the second test is given 1 to 4 weeks later, and it is read 48 to 72 hours after that. So a two-step test means several visits over a few weeks. Plan ahead if your form has a deadline.

Why two steps? The standards recommend it for people who will be tested again in future, such as health care workers, to account for the booster effect, where a second test can react more strongly than the first. Doing both steps at the start gives a reliable baseline to compare later tests against.

Health care, college and placement programs often ask for a two-step TB skin test before you start. Requirements differ, so bring the actual form, along with any past TB test results and vaccination records you have, including records from outside Canada. Tell the clinic if you have had a positive TB test before or have had the BCG vaccine. The standards note that past BCG vaccination can affect skin-test results.

Many of the same forms also ask for vaccines such as Tdap or hepatitis B. Mention everything on the form when you call, so it can be planned together.

A positive skin test does not mean you have active TB. The Canadian Tuberculosis Standards say the skin test cannot tell TB infection apart from TB disease. They recommend that everyone with a positive result be referred for a medical evaluation to rule out TB disease, which usually includes a chest X-ray.

The physician will explain your result and arrange the next steps. Please don't ignore a positive result, even if your school or employer only asked for the test itself.

A titre is a blood test that measures antibodies, used as evidence of immunity when a form asks for it. At this clinic, MMR and varicella titres are done by lab requisition: the physician gives you the requisition, and the blood is drawn at a community lab, not on site.

Once your results are in, book a follow-up visit to review them with the physician and complete your form. If a result shows you may not be immune, the physician will talk about whether vaccination makes sense for you. Other vaccines are listed on the vaccinations page.

This page does not list prices or OHIP coverage for TB tests or titres. Call (416) 681-0444 for details. Please call first rather than walking in, so the visits for a two-step test can be scheduled on the right days. TB skin tests are placed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so each reading falls 48 to 72 hours later on a weekday. Appointments run Monday and Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm; Tuesday and Saturday, with Dr. Grewal 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.

The clinic is at 750 Dundas St W #11, Toronto, ON M6J 3S3, Bathurst entrance. International students can check UHIP and GuardMe details.

Eligibility and funding rules change. The guidance this page draws on is published by:

• Canadian Tuberculosis Standards, 8th edition, Chapter 4: Diagnosis of tuberculosis infection (Public Health Agency of Canada)