Tuberculosis (TB)

Is the TB screening mandatory?

Yes. You are required to answer the questionnaire in MyStudentChart. Based on your answers, you many need to complete TB testing.

Note: TB testing is mandatory for professional healthcare students.

I did a PPD/T-Spot/QuantiFERON-TB Gold/Chest X-Ray in the past, does it still count?

All TB tests (PPD/T-Spot/QuantiFeron-TB Gold/Chest X-ray) must be done 6 months prior to entry to UCLA. If your TB test was older than 6 months, you are required to complete another TB test.

Unsure how to answer one or more of the TB screening questions?

Question 1: Have you previously tested positive for TB?

• Answer NO if you have never before taken a TB test or have only had negative TB tests in the past.

• Answer YES if you have ever received a positive TB test, no matter how young or old you were.

Question 2: Foreign-born person from a country with an elevated TB rate?

  • Answer NO if you were born in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or a country in Western or Northern Europe.
  • Answer YES if you were born in any other country or region.

Question 3: Immunosuppression, current or planned?

  • Answer NO if not applicable.
  • Answer YES if any of the following apply:
    • HIV infection
    • Organ transplant recipient
    • Treated with TNF-alpha antagonist (e.g. infliximab, etanercept, others), steroids (equivalent of prednisone = 15 mg/day for 1+ month), or other immunosuppressive medication.

Question 4: Close contact to someone with infectious TB disease at any time?

  • Answer NO if not applicable.
  • Answer YES if applicable, no matter how long ago and whether or not the person(s) received medical treatment for TB.

Question 5: Foreign travel or residence of 1+ month consecutively in a country with an elevated TB rate?

  • Answer NO if:
    • You have only traveled within the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Western or Northern Europe.
    • You have only lived in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or a country in Western or Northern Europe.
    • You have only traveled outside the areas above for less than 30 days consecutively.

  • Answer YES if:
    • You answered YES to Question 2.
    • You have ever lived or traveled for 30+ consecutive days outside the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Western or Northern Europe.

What if I had the BCG vaccine?

You are required to submit results of a T-Spot/QuantiFERON-TB Gold/Chest X-Ray done 6 months prior to entry to UCLA to confirm that you do not have active Tuberculosis (TB).

What if I had a reactive/positive T-Spot or QuantiFeron-TB Gold test?

You must submit proof of a normal/negative Chest X-Ray done 6 months prior to entry to UCLA to confirm that you do not have active Tuberculosis (TB). If your Chest X-ray results are concerning for Tuberculosis, you required to submit proof of three negative AFB smears and cultures.