CDC Supports New USPSTF Recommendation for Tuberculosis Testing

CDC Supports New USPSTF Recommendation for Tuberculosis Testing

Tuberculosis (TB) cannot be eliminated in the United States without increased efforts to test and treat latent TB infection. Today, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a recommendation that supports CDC guidance to test for latent tuberculosis infection in populations that are at increased risk. These groups include:

• People born in or who frequently travel to countries where TB disease is common, including Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, China, Haiti, and Guatemala; or other countries with high rates of TB.
• People who currently, or used to, live in large group settings, such as homeless shelters or prisons and jails where TB is more common.

The USPSTF recommendation supports existing CDC guidelines and provides a new opportunity for the TB community to draw attention to latent TB infection and educate the public, health care providers, at-risk populations, and policy makers on the importance of targeted testing and treatment for latent TB infection.

Guidance, resources, and training on latent TB infection testing and treatment that partners can use as part of outreach and education are available on the CDC website, and through the Division's Twitter and Facebook accounts. 

CDC is committed to working with our partners to promote communication and engagement with affected communities and the health care providers serving these communities. 

Thank you,

Division of Tuberculosis Elimination

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention