Who doesn’t like a good ole’ trip to the All-American pharmacy? Maybe sometimes it’s for medicine, maybe it’s for a pack of cigs, but sometimes you’re looking for a test. A Walgreens tb test does exist, but only at select Healthcare Clinic and Find Care partner sites, and it runs roughly $35 to $100 for the skin test and more for the blood draw. The catch most people miss: the skin test needs a return visit 48 to 72 hours later to read the result, and blowing that window means starting over, second copay and all. That gap between what people assume Walgreens offers and what’s actually at their local store is where the wasted trips happen. The short version: yes, some locations do it, but you have to confirm the specific store first, and prices swing by state and change over time. Everything below is the numbers-first breakdown of a Walgreens tb test, what each version costs, and whether you even need one.
Does Walgreens Do TB Tests, and What Does It Cost?
Yes, but only at select Healthcare Clinic and Find Care partner sites, not most pharmacy counters. Expect roughly $35 to $100 out of pocket for the Mantoux skin test and higher, often $60 to $150 or more, for the QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test, based on partner clinic listings. Walgreens’ own Health Answers page confirms testing exists at select locations and points users to the Find Care tool to locate one.
Those numbers are estimates, not a fixed price sheet. TB testing availability and cost vary by store, state, and the third-party provider running the clinic, and they change over time. The practical takeaway before you drive anywhere: the store two blocks away may not offer it at all, and the price the next town over may not match. Confirm the specific site first, because “Walgreens does TB tests” is true in aggregate and false at plenty of individual locations.
The Two TB Tests You Can Actually Book
Partner clinics offer two options, and the choice drives cost, timing, and whether your employer or school accepts the result. One is the Mantoux tuberculin skin test, the classic PPD. The other is an IGRA blood test, usually QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus. The CDC lists both as valid methods for detecting TB infection, and current guidance leans toward the blood test when possible for its specificity and single-visit convenience.
Some employers or programs specify which one they’ll accept, so ask before booking. If nobody specified, the deciding factor is usually whether you can make it back for a second appointment.
The Skin Test (PPD): Two Visits, 48 to 72 Hours Apart
The skin test is two trips, not one. On the first visit, a clinician injects a small amount of tuberculin under the skin of your forearm. Then you have to return 48 to 72 hours later so a trained provider can measure the raised area and read it. This is the part people underestimate. Miss that window and the test is void; you restart from the injection, which can mean a second visit fee. If your schedule is tight or you’re traveling, the two-appointment structure is a real constraint.
The Blood Test (IGRA): One Visit, No Return Trip
The IGRA blood test is a single blood draw with no return trip. You give a sample, the lab runs it, and results come back without a second appointment. That’s why it’s often preferred when a read-back visit is inconvenient or when someone has had the BCG vaccine, which can throw off skin test results. The tradeoff is price. The blood draw is usually the pricier of the two, so you’re paying for convenience and specificity.
What a TB Test Costs at Walgreens
Here’s the piece the official Walgreens page skips: transparent numbers. Retail listings and partner clinic pages put the skin test in the ballpark of $35 to $100 without insurance, while the IGRA blood test typically lands higher, often $60 to $150 or more per draw, because lab processing costs more than a skin injection. These are estimates pulled from partner clinic listings, and real prices swing by store and state. For anyone deciding between test types on price alone, that spread is the whole decision. The CDC’s overview of TB testing methods explains why the blood test carries a higher processing cost.
Skin Test vs Blood Test Pricing
| Test | Visits | Out-of-pocket | Typical insurance coverage | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mantoux skin test (PPD) | 2 (48-72 hrs apart) | ~$35-$100 | Often covered when medically indicated | Read at return visit |
| IGRA blood test (QuantiFERON) | 1 | ~$60-$150+ | Covered less consistently; verify with insurer | 1-3 days by lab |
Treat these as ranges, not quotes. A store in a high-cost metro may sit at the top of each band, and a promotional or employer-partnered rate may fall below it.
Insurance, “Free” TB Tests, and What You Actually Pay
Searches for a free tb test Walgreens usually end in disappointment at the pharmacy, but not always in real life. Some insurance plans cover TB screening when it’s medically indicated, and many employers or schools pay for required testing directly. That’s what “free” actually means here: someone else is footing the bill, not that the clinic waives it. Walk in without coverage and a cash price is standard. Call your insurer or check with your employer’s HR before assuming it’s covered, because the difference is the entire cost of the visit.
How to Find a Walgreens That Offers TB Testing
This is the reality check. Many pharmacy locations don’t do TB testing at all, which is why a Walgreens tb test near me search can return a store two blocks away that flatly doesn’t offer it. TB testing routes through select Healthcare Clinic and Find Care partner sites, and those are a subset of total stores. Assuming your neighborhood location has it is the fastest way to waste a trip.
Use Find Care or the Healthcare Clinic Locator
The practical path: open Find Care or the Healthcare Clinic locator on the Walgreens site or app, search your area, and filter for TB testing. That surfaces the specific sites that offer it rather than every store nearby. Confirm the exact address handles the test before you plan around it. A location appearing in a general store search is not the same as a location that runs TB tests.
Call Ahead and Confirm the Service
A listing online is not a guarantee the service is live today. Phone the exact clinic and confirm three things: that they do TB testing, current pricing for the test type you need, and whether the read-back visit fits your schedule if you’re doing the skin test. Two minutes on the phone beats a wasted drive and a second wasted drive when the read-back can’t be scheduled in the window.
Appointment or Walk-In? What to Expect on the Day
For the walgreens tb test appointment question, it depends on the site. Some partner clinics take same-day walk-ins, others require booking ahead, and busy locations may run a wait even with an appointment. Booking online through Find Care removes the guesswork. The visit itself is quick: a short intake, then either the forearm injection or the blood draw, usually under 15 minutes of actual clinical time. Aftercare is minimal. For the skin test, don’t scratch or cover the injection site, and come back inside the 48-to-72-hour window. For the blood test, you’re done when you walk out.
The Paperwork: Documentation for Work, School, or Immigration
Documentation is the reason most people are here, so know what you leave with. The clinic provides a signed result form suitable for employers, school enrollment, or healthcare onboarding. That form is the deliverable, not the test itself. Keep the original and scan a copy, because HR departments and school offices lose paperwork and a reprint may cost another visit. Confirm your employer or school accepts a retail clinic result and the specific test type before you book, since a few require a particular test or a physician’s office.
Immigration and Green Card Medical Exams
Immigration is the exception where a Walgreens result usually won’t work. Green card and immigration medical exams typically require a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, not a retail clinic, and the exam is part of a broader medical review. A standard retail TB result generally will not satisfy USCIS on its own. If your test is for immigration, confirm the exact requirement first and find a designated civil surgeon rather than assuming a walk-in clinic result counts.
Do You Even Need a TB Test?
Before booking anything, ask whether you actually need this. The CDC and USPSTF recommend testing people at increased risk for TB infection, not the general low-risk population. Routine testing of low-risk individuals can produce false positives that trigger unnecessary chest X-rays, clinician visits, and sometimes treatment for an infection that isn’t there. San Francisco’s public health guidance, aligned with CDC, states plainly that routine testing of people without risk factors is not recommended. If no one is requiring the test and you have no risk factors, testing may be low value.
Who Actually Gets Tested
The common triggers are specific. Healthcare and long-term care employment. School or university enrollment. Congregate settings like shelters or correctional facilities. Birth in or frequent travel to countries with high TB incidence. Immunosuppression from HIV, certain medications, or medical conditions. If one of those describes you or someone’s requiring proof, testing makes sense. If none apply and nobody’s asking, you’re likely in the over-testing zone the guidelines warn against.
What Happens If the Result Is Positive
A positive test is not a TB diagnosis. It means the clinic refers you for further evaluation, typically a chest X-ray and a clinician review, to determine whether you have latent infection or active disease. You cannot read or interpret the result yourself, and you should not assume treatment is needed until a provider completes the workup. Take the referral seriously and follow up with a clinician, who will decide next steps based on the full picture, not the single test.
Walgreens vs CVS MinuteClinic for TB Testing
For the tb test at walgreens vs cvs crowd, here’s the honest comparison. CVS MinuteClinic markets TB testing more consistently across its roughly 1,100 owned-and-operated clinics, listing both the skin test and the QuantiFERON blood test for work, school, and immigration needs. Walgreens leans on a partner-site model instead, routing TB testing through select Healthcare Clinic and Find Care providers, so coverage is patchier and depends on which third party runs the clinic near you. The practical read: MinuteClinic’s owned network means a service listing usually sticks, while a Walgreens listing hinges on the individual partner, so verify the exact site and current price either way.
The Bottom Line on a Walgreens TB Test
The trap with a Walgreens tb test is assuming your local store does it and driving over to a shrug. Confirm the exact site through Find Care, call to verify pricing and the read-back window, and check whether you even meet the risk criteria before you spend a dime. If you do need it, the blood test’s single visit is worth the higher price for most people who can’t guarantee a second trip.
FAQs about Walgreens tb test
Does Walgreens do TB tests?
Yes, at select Healthcare Clinic and Find Care partner locations, not at most pharmacy counters. Availability varies by store and state, so confirm the specific site through Find Care before showing up.
How much is a TB test at Walgreens?
The skin test typically runs about $35 to $100 out of pocket, and the IGRA blood test usually costs more, often $60 to $150 or more. These are estimates from partner clinic listings and change by location.
Is there a free TB test at Walgreens?
A walk-in cash price is standard. “Free” usually means insurance, an employer, or a school is covering the cost, not that the clinic waives it. Check your coverage before booking.
How do I find a Walgreens TB test near me?
Use the Find Care tool or Healthcare Clinic locator on the Walgreens site or app, filter for TB testing, and confirm the exact site offers it. Many nearby stores don’t provide it.
What’s the difference between the Walgreens TB skin test and blood test?
The skin test (PPD) is cheaper but needs two visits 48 to 72 hours apart for a read-back. The blood test (IGRA) is one visit with no return trip but costs more.
Do I need an appointment for a TB test at Walgreens?
Some partner clinics take same-day walk-ins, others require booking. Booking through Find Care avoids the guesswork. Call the exact location to confirm before you go.
How long does a TB test at Walgreens take?
The visit itself is usually under 15 minutes. The skin test requires a second visit within 48 to 72 hours to read results; the blood test needs no return trip.
Can I use a Walgreens TB test for immigration or a green card?
Usually not. Immigration and green card exams typically require a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, not a retail clinic. Confirm the exact requirement before booking anywhere.
What documentation do I get from a TB test at Walgreens?
The clinic provides a signed result form suitable for employers, school enrollment, or healthcare onboarding. Keep the original and scan a copy in case it’s lost.
Is a Walgreens TB test better than CVS MinuteClinic?
CVS MinuteClinic markets TB testing more consistently across its owned clinics, while Walgreens routes it through select partner sites. Check both locators and go with the available, correctly priced site near you. And if you fell down this rabbit hole from a broader list of practical health questions, the site also settles oddities like whether bleach actually kills lice.