Section 165. Employee tuberculosis screening and follow-up

A. On or before the employee's start date at the facility each employee shall submit evidence of freedom from tuberculosis in a communicable form that is no older than 30 days. The documentation shall indicate the screening results as to whether there is an absence of tuberculosis in a communicable form.

B. Each employee shall submit evidence of an annual evaluation of freedom from tuberculosis in a communicable form.

C. Employees shall undergo a subsequent tuberculosis screening or evaluation, as applicable, in the following circumstances:

1. The employee comes into contact with a known case of infectious tuberculosis; or

2. The employee develops chronic respiratory symptoms of three weeks duration.

D. Employees suspected of having tuberculosis in a communicable form shall not be permitted to return to work or have contact with staff or residents until a physician has determined that the individual does not have tuberculosis in a communicable form.

E. Any active case of tuberculosis developed by an employee or a resident shall be reported to the local health department in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Health Regulations for Disease Reporting and Control (12VAC5-90).

F. Documentation of any screening results shall be retained in a manner that maintains the confidentiality of information.

G. The detection, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis shall be performed consistent with the current requirements of the Virginia Department of Health's Division of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control and the federal Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. January 1, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§§ 16.1-309.9, 66-10, and 66-24 of the Code of Virginia.