Tuberculosis Rules and Statutes

Summary of Rules

• Health Care Providers and Laboratories must report cases or suspect cases of TB disease within 1 working day to the Local Public Health Authority  (See Division 18 OAR 333-018-000, 333-018-005, 333-018-0010, 333-018-0015)

• Licensed Laboratories are required to forward M. tuberculosis isolates to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory  ( See Division 18 OAR 333-018-0018) l

• “Each Health Care Facility shall formally assess the risk of tuberculosis transmission among staff (professional & volunteer), residents, and patients at least annually and shall follow tuberculosis screening recommendations ... (2) Each Residential Facility...shall formally assess the risk of tuberculosis transmission among staff (professional & volunteer), residents, inmates, and patients at least annually and shall follow appropriate tuberculosis screening recommendations as outlined in the relevant publications or as otherwise approved by DHS." (See Division 19 OAR 333-019-0041) Note: Newly approved TB Control Publications for recommended TB screening are now available and replace previous guidelines for Health Care Facilities (MMWR 1994 Vol.43, No. RR-13) and Long Term Care Facilities (MMWR 1990 Vol 39, No. RR-10) and Corrections (MMWR 1996 Vol.45, No RR-8). See below for the current guidelines.

   

  • Health-care settings: Guideline for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings, 2005 (pdf)

   

  • Corrections: Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention Facilities Detention Facilities, 2006 (pdf)

   

• NOTE: School Rule OAR 333-019-0041 (3) has been dropped from the Administrative Rules (since summer 2005). Public schools are no longer required to do TB screening on selected foreign-born students entering Oregon schools under state law. However, each local health authority may elect to mandate targeted TB testing on populations within their jurisdition whom they determine are at high risk for TB. Please consult your local health authority prior to any TB school screening.