5.39 – Tuberculosis Screening & Testing
A. Purpose
To establish a targeted tuberculosis screening and testing program as required for all institutions of higher education in Missouri under section 199.290 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. This program requires all newly hired faculty and new students enrolling in courses to be screened and/or tested for tuberculosis according to the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization and/or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
B. Policy
All students and faculty are required to be screened for tuberculosis.
C. Procedures
Tuberculosis (TB) screening and testing procedures for Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) students and faculty are maintained by the Office of the Registrar.
Screening and Testing
Students
TB screening to identify students who are at a higher risk for exposure to or infection with TB will take place by questionnaire at the time of application.
All students identified at a higher risk for exposure to or infection with TB and who are enrolled in courses must undergo mandatory TB testing. The testing must be completed by a healthcare professional in the United States prior to registering for courses in the student’s second semester.
Faculty
TB screening to identify faculty who are at a higher risk for exposure to or infection with TB will take place by questionnaire as part of the new hire onboarding process.
All faculty identified at a higher risk for exposure to or infection with TB must undergo mandatory TB testing. The testing must be completed prior to their first day of employment.
Risk Determination for Mandatory Testing
Students and faculty who are at a higher risk for exposure to or infection with TB include the following:
- Persons in close contact with person(s) known or suspected to have active TB disease.
- Persons arriving from countries with an increased incidence of TB. (Information about countries which currently are experiencing higher incidences is available from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)
- Persons who have visited areas with an increased incidence of TB.
- Persons who participate in college trips to identified areas/countries with an increased incidence of TB will need to be tested upon their return to the United States.
- Persons who have lived or worked in high-risk congregate settings (e.g., correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, etc.);
- Persons who have worked as health-care workers serving clients who are at an increased risk for active TB.
- Persons who have an increased incidence of TB including those who have abused drugs or alcohol.
- Persons with medical conditions that weaken the immune system (e.g., HIV); and
- Persons with symptoms of TB (e.g., fever, night sweats, cough, and weight loss).
Positive Test Results
If a student or faculty receives a positive TB test result with no signs of active disease on a chest x-ray, the student or faculty can be cleared to continue their enrollment or employment upon OTC’s receipt of clearance documentation from the healthcare professional.
If the student or faculty is diagnosed with active TB, OTC will follow the procedures of policy 4.08 Communicable Diseases to clear the student or faculty to be on campus.
D. Definitions
Tuberculosis or pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), is a contagious bacterial infection that involves the lungs. It may spread to other organs.
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the national public health institute of the United States.
World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends.
E. Authority
This policy and these procedures are maintained under the authority of the vice chancellor for student affairs and the vice chancellor for administrative services.
F. Related Policies
G. Implementation
Purpose and Policy approved and adopted by the Board of Trustees on 11/09/2015; revised 11/11/2019.
Procedures, Definitions, and Authority approved and adopted by the chancellor’s cabinet on 10/06/2015; revised 10/01/2019, 02/27/2024.
Set for review in fiscal year 2025-2026.