Instructions for TB Screening

Please report to the University Employee Health Clinic (UEHC), first level Boyd Tower, preferably during the week of your birthday, as long as it is in the same month, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to have your TB skin test applied. No appointment is required. The results of the skin test must be read in the UEHC or by an authorized reader between 48 and 72 hours after the skin test was applied. No one is allowed to read their own TB skin test including physicians. Because of this, TB skin tests are not routinely applied on Thursdays unless working weekends. If your TB skin test is always positive, you must still report to UEHC for a follow-up TB screening and review of symptoms. Annual TB skin test must be applied and read during your birth month.

Tuberculosis screening is required upon employment and annually for all employees working at UI Hospitals and Clinics and Carver College of Medicine. The skin test results must be read 48 to 72 hours after applying. Tuberculosis skin tests are not applied on Thursdays unless special arrangements for reading the test are made.

• Notification to clinical hospital staff are generated through e-mails (Outlook) by departmental Human Resources to the employee.
• Staff members will receive notification to report to University Employee Health Clinic for TB testing in their birth month.
• The staff members’ supervisor can read TB tests if training in reading skin tests has been completed. No one is allowed to read their own TB tests, including physicians.
• The supervisor who reads the TB test will send the results to University Employee Health Clinic via e-mail or return the completed TB reporting form by campus mail.
• Mail TB test results back to UEHC, or e-mail results to Employee-Health@uiowa.edu on Outlook.
• Pregnancy or lactation is not a contraindication to TB testing. Deferrals may be granted for special cases with presentation of a letter from the staff member’s physician.
• If the staff member has a documented history of previous positive skin tests, an annual TB test is not performed. A copy of a chest x-ray report must be on file at that time. Annual symptom evaluations will be provided to all known positive TB-tested employees. Follow-up chest X-rays are performed only if symptoms are suggestive of TB.
• Respirator fit testing is available to staff who require it for employment and is scheduled at the same time as the Tuberculosis screening.

Tuberculosis (TB) Review

• All UI Health Care staff who are classified as having a skin test reaction will be notified annually by departmental Human Resources through e-mails on Outlook. The employee will be asked to report to University Employee Health Clinic during their birth month to complete a form.
• Staff will review signs and symptoms of tuberculosis (TB Review form) with the individual. University Employee Health Clinic must have on file a chest x-ray report.

Information for other University of Iowa employees

FAQs About Annual TB Skin Test and Respirator (Mask) Refit Test