Section 696.APPENDIX B  Waivers for Initial TB Screening Tests

a)         Persons Who are Not Part of a Routine, Periodic Screening Program.  TB screening test requirements can be waived when documentation is available of a TB screening test result read within 90 days before employment.

b)         Persons Who are Part of a Routine, Periodic Screening Program.  TB screening test requirements can be waived with documentation of:

1)         Two or more negative Mantoux skin test results read within one year before employment/admission, with the most recent Mantoux skin test read within 90 days before employment/admission; or

2)         A negative TB screening test result read within one year before employment/admission, provided that the employee shall then receive an additional TB screening test within seven days after employment/admission; or

3)         Negative Mantoux two-step testing or other TB screening test results read within 90 days before employment/admission; or

4)         Negative Mantoux two-step testing or other TB screening test results read within one year before employment/admission, followed by a negative Mantoux skin test result read within 90 days before employment/admission; or

5)         Negative two-step testing results read within one year before employment/admission,  provided that the employee shall then receive an additional Mantoux skin test within seven days after employment/admission.

c)         Employees Re-hired or Clients Re-admitted Within a 12-Month Period. Employees and clients sometimes leave a facility for a period of time and later return to that facility.  These employees and clients, who have previously met TB screening test requirements, may have such requirements for new hires or new admissions waived if indicated by a risk assessment and, in the judgement of the facility's medical director, these persons were at low risk of exposure to tuberculosis during their absence from the facility.  Consultation should be obtained from the local TB control authority as necessary.  A waiver signed by the facility's medical director shall be included in the employees' files.

d)         Persons with Documentation of a Previous Positive TB Screening Test Result.  Repeat skin testing is not needed or required for persons with documentation of a previous positive test result.  (See Section 696.140(b) for screening procedures for persons with documentation of a previous positive result.)

e)         Volunteers.  At workplaces, screening requirements for volunteers may be waived based on the results of a risk assessment performed by the local TB control authority.  Documentation of such waiver shall be kept on file at the facility.

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