The Hawaii Department of Health has suspended temporarily tuberculosis clearance requirements for school personnel, students, food handlers, and workers in health care, domiciliary care, day care and residential care facilities.
The Hawaii Department of Health has suspended temporarily tuberculosis clearance requirements for school personnel, students, food handlers, and workers in health care, domiciliary care, day care and residential care facilities.
The state will not restrict attendance at work or school due to the absence of a TB clearance effective Thursday, according to the department. The suspension is in response to a nationwide shortage of solution required for tuberculin skin testing.
Because of the shortage of Tubersol and Aplisol purified protein derivative solution, the department is limiting TB testing available at state clinics to specific high-risk groups until further notice.
The groups include: persons with signs and symptoms of active TB; contacts exposed to an infectious case of TB; high-risk immigrants referred from the Honolulu Quarantine Station; persons with immunodeficiencies; and persons who require TB screening due to medical treatment.
All other individuals seeking a TB clearance are advised to contact their private health care provider or health center.
Department of Health services related to the evaluation and treatment of persons suspected or confirmed to have active TB disease are not affected by the shortage; these services will continue without change.
Manufacturers of the purified protein derivative have been experiencing delays in production since November, according to the department. It is estimated that adequate supplies of the solution will be available several months from now.
The department anticipates the temporary suspension of state TB clearance requirements may be in effect for up to 120 days or until the solution shortage has ended. Public notice will be issued when the suspension is lifted and a grace period or catch-up date will be announced for individuals whose TB clearance was postponed to meet their requirement.
Hospitals and medical providers in Hawaii have received detailed recommendations from the department on steps to take during the shortage.
For more information on tuberculosis or TB testing, call the Hawaii TB Control Program at 832-5731 or visit hawaii.gov/health/tb.