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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States includes information related to TB testing (pages 9-10).
Inactive vaccines do not interfere with tuberculosis (TB) test results. For healthcare personnel or patients who require baseline TB testing (at onboarding or entry into facilities) at the same time they are to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine:
- Perform TB symptom screening on all healthcare personnel or patients.
- If utilizing the IGRA, draw blood for interferon gamma release assay prior to COVID-19 vaccination.
- If utilizing the TST, place prior to COVID-19 vaccination.
- If vaccination has been given and testing needs to be performed, defer TST or IGRA until 4 weeks after COVID-19 vaccine 2-dose completion.
- All potential recipients of COVID-19 vaccination should weigh the risks and benefits of delaying TST/IGRA with their providers.
Annual TB testing of residents should wait until four weeks after the individual has received the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.