Section 696.170  Reporting

Health professionals listed in subsection (a)(1) shall report suspected and confirmed cases of TB to the local TB control authority or, in the absence of a local TB control authority, to the TB Control Section of the Department.  The local TB control authority shall report to the Department.

a)         Reports to the Local TB Control Authority.

1)         Health Professionals Required to Report.  Reports shall be made by physicians, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, laboratory personnel and the health coordinator of settings serving high-risk groups to the local TB control authority or, in the absence of a local TB control authority, to the TB Control Section of the Department.

2)         Report Forms and Transmission of Reports.  Reports of suspected and confirmed cases of TB shall be made on forms available from the local TB control authority or the Department.  To facilitate prompt reporting, telephone or facsimile reports are acceptable if followed by a written report sent through the mail.

3)         Reports of Suspected and Confirmed Cases of TB.  Persons required to report under subsection (a)(1) of this Section (except for laboratory personnel) shall, within seven calendar days after the diagnosis of a suspected or confirmed case of TB, notify the local TB control authority of the following:

A)        Diagnosis.  Information shall be provided about the diagnosis of a suspected or confirmed case of TB, including the dates and results of TB screening tests (Mantoux skin test results shall be recorded in millimeters) and the results of bacteriologic examinations and chest radiographs.  When an apparent occurrence of TB does not have laboratory confirmation or meet the clinical case definition, the local TB control authority should consult with the Department.

B)        Clinical Management Information.  Information shall be provided about the clinical management of a suspected or confirmed case of TB, including the determination of the infectious or not infectious status, isolation precautions taken, treatment regimen, whether the client is at high-risk for nonadherence to a prescribed treatment regimen, and past or present behavior that indicates a substantial likelihood of not cooperating with prevention and control measures.

C)        Surveillance Information.  Reportable demographic and locating information regarding the suspected or confirmed case of TB should include the name, address, date of birth, gender, race, ethnic origin, country of origin,  month and year the person arrived in the United States (if applicable), non-prescribed drug use and excess alcohol use within the year before the date of submission, occupation, address changes, names and addresses of close contacts, and other information required to complete the tuberculosis reporting form of the Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Report of Verified Case of TB (RVCT) form.

D)        Other Information.  Any other relevant information requested by the local TB control authority or the Department should be provided.  Such information may include hospital discharge plans for out-patient follow-up and locating information for persons with TB infection.

b)         Reports to the Department from Local TB Control Authorities.  Local TB control authorities shall report to the Department on the diagnosis, clinical management and surveillance of suspected and confirmed cases of TB and the investigation of contacts, as follows.  The local TB control authority shall make their records available for inspection by the Department when requested in order to carry out the provisions of this Part.

1)         Reports of Suspected or Confirmed Cases of TB.  Within seven calendar days after a local TB control authority's receipt of a report of a suspected or confirmed case of TB, the Department shall receive available information on an RVCT form.

2)         Reports Due Within 30 Calendar Days After the Department's Request for Information.  The Department shall be notified of the status of drug susceptibility test results, contact investigation information, case completion of therapy and other relevant information within 30 calendar days after the Department's request for information.

c)         Reports from Laboratories.  Within one calendar day after obtaining results, laboratories shall report to the person who requested the test, to the local TB control authority and to the Department smears positive for acid-fast bacilli, cultures or other tests positive for M. tuberculosis, and drug susceptibility test results.

d)         Confidentiality.

1)         It is the policy of the Department to maintain the confidentiality of information that would identify individual patients.

2)         Whenever any statute of this State or any ordinance or resolution of a municipal corporation or political subdivision enacted pursuant to statute or any rule of an administrative agency adopted pursuant to statute requires medical practitioners or other persons to report cases of tuberculosis to any governmental agency or officer, such reports shall be confidential, and any medical practitioner or other person making such report in good faith shall be immune from suit or slander or libel based upon any statements contained in such report.  The identity of any individual contained in a report of tuberculosis or an investigation conducted pursuant to a report of tuberculosis shall be confidential and such identity shall not be disclosed publicly in any action of any kind in any court or before any tribunal, board or agency.  (Communicable Disease Report Act [745 ILCS 45])

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 4010, effective February 29, 2008)