Number One Health are proud to offer a new Tuberculosis test from Quantiferon Gold to you and your staff.
The problem
Currently you ask to see a BCG vaccine scar or do a Heaf/Mantoux test. The
latter requires a second visit which takes up clinic time and your staff time.
If the Heaf test is positive you know not to give the BCG vaccination but
you do not know if this person has TB infection or if the positive reaction
is due to a cross reaction with prior BCG vaccination. Also the skin test
is very insensitive and so misses many people with TB infection who could
still go on to infect patients or people they care for.
The solution
One visit. One blood test. If it is negative the staff member does not have
active or latent TB and as such is no risk to your patients or people whom
they care for. If their test is positive, you can rule out active TB by clinical
features and a chest-X-ray. If they have active TB you can initiate treatment.
If they have latent TB you can offer the option of treatment, since there is a 10% lifetime risk of those with latent TB who have an uncompromised immune system for developing TB. If they acquire immunodeficiency (i.e. AIDS, steroids) or have an existing condition this risk is much higher (i.e. 10% per year not per life-time).
Certification Number EO10000521
