Latent TB Screening in Primary Care
GP practices to provide latent TB screening for patients from high incidence countries and/or who have been exposed to social risk factors.
Screening involves:
- Identifying eligible patients: at registration, through Flag4 data and/or an EMIS Web Search or on an ad hoc basis
- Taking a T-spot blood test sample on tQuest (order form T-SPOT-TB ) and sending it to the Homerton.
- Taking the appropriate next steps following the results of the test being issued
Eligibility
Inclusion
Criteria one
- Age 16-35
- Born or spent more than 6 months in a high incidence country (>150 TB cases per 100,000 population or Sub Saharan Africa)
- Entered the UK in the last 5 years (including entry via other countries)
- no previous history of TB or LBTI
- not previously screened for LTBI in the UK
Criteria two
- Age 16-35
- Social risk factor- current/ex drug user, ex-prisoner, homeless or was homeless, current alcohol misuse
- no previous history of TB or LBTI
- not previously screened for LTBI in the UK
NOTE: pre-screening in their original country before arrival in the UK is not an exclusion criteria, nor is testing by chest x-ray or other testing for active TB in the UK