UPDATE - Tuberculosis Surveillance

TB Flex Program

Effective January 1, 2023, UCSF Occupational Health Services will implement the TB Flex Program for employees working in UCSF Health. This program modifies the TB/Tuberculosis screening compliance requirements for the FY 2022-2023 and is being considered for implementation on an ongoing basis.

The annual TB symptom screening questionnaire on the OHS Portal (Requires MyAccess (https://ohsportal.ucsfmedicalcenter.org/). Employees without MyAccess who need assistance filing their annual questionnaire may come to OHS locations during drop-in hours for completion.

The timing for completion will remain the same as it is currently – once annually during the month that it was completed in the prior calendar year.

What’s changing:

  • Beginning 1/1/2023 all Staff and learners working in Health will be required to complete an annual TB symptom screening questionnaire on the OHS Portal (Requires MyAccess).
  • Only staff identified by OHS as working in high-risk areas or roles and as having a negative TB skin test (PPD) the previous year will be required to complete both the annual TB symptom screening questionnaire AND an annual TB skin test (PPD).
  • PPDs will no longer be mandatory for employees working in the areas not deemed as high risk.
  • The process and requirements for new hires remains unchanged at this time.

TB Surveillance Program

UCSF requires baseline and annual tuberculosis skin testing (TST) for all occupational groups that meet the definitions of Risk Category I and II defined in the UCSF Communicable Disease Surveillance and Vaccination Policy and have contact with patients or human subjects through their work or research in the UCSF Medical Center and Ambulatory Care Clinic practices. Newly hired Medical Center employees must complete the TB screening process prior to their start of employment date. All eligible personnel must participate annually.

Personnel who have tested positive in the past are required to have one baseline chest x-ray and thereafter complete an annual symptom review by dropping by one of our drop-in clinic locations during business hours. Chest x-rays will not be performed annually, but only if indicated based on the clinical presentation. At any time, if any employee has symptoms of TB (persistent cough, low grade fevers, unexplained weight loss, night sweats) further evaluation must be done. Please refer to Occupational Health Services.

UCSF Occupational Health Services also provides pre-placement TB skin testing for new UCSF employees located at ZSFG.