PPD Shortage

The updated alert suggests that since a shortage of both PPD Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) solutions is continuing at least until the end of May and likely longer, practitioners and institutions should continue to prioritize their use of existing stock and explore further the use of the IGRA blood tests, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube and TSpot TB, in settings where they have previously used TSTs.

The same guidance of 3/25/2013 on patient prioritization and delaying of serial testing continues to apply. Highest priority persons for testing include as before:

1) Persons who are contacts to infectious cases;

2) Persons being evaluated for suspected active TB;

3) Persons at increased risk for tuberculosis due to medical conditions; and,

4) Persons recently arrived from high TB incidence countries.

Please read the entire four-page alert. TB-related questions can be sent to tbcontrol@health.state.ny.us or call 518-474-4845. 

Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingagny.org, 518-867-8871