Latent Tuberculosis (TB) Policy for Lamar University

Since Fall 2013 semester, Lamar University has implemented Tuberculosis (TB) testing for all Non-US Citizen/Non-Permanent Residents, and any student, faculty or staff meeting high-risk criteria^*. Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for enrollment.

Students are not eligible to register for classes unless they have provided evidence of having had one of the following no greater than 6 months prior to their arrival to the University:

• Negative TB skin test
• Negative TB blood test-Acceptable TB blood tests (interferon-gamma release assays or IGRA’s) include: QuantiFeron_®-TB Gold or T-SPOT_®.
• Positive TB skin test with a negative TB blood test
• It is not required that the testing be done in the United States.
• Sputum or negative x-rays are not acceptable.

All documentation for testing done outside the Student Health Center must include:

• Date the TB skin test was administered or TB blood test was drawn.
• Date the TB skin test was read or date the TB blood test was resulted.
• Results reported in millimeters and/or “negative” or “positive” for TB skin
  testing. Results reported as “negative” or “positive” for TB blood testing.
• Documentation must be in English.
• Documentation signed by a qualified health care provider licensed to read TB skin
  tests and/or TB blood test.
• Name of the medical facility where testing was done.

If any of the above information is missing from the documentation, the student will not be eligible for enrollment until all deficiencies are corrected and turned in to the Student Health Center.

All documentation will be turned in to the Student Health Center via the Health Center patient portal at https://patient-lamar.medicatconnect.com/.

TB skin testing is available at the Lamar University Student Health Center (SHC). Two appointments, 48 hours apart, are required for TB testing. Students with a positive skin test will be given the blood test, which may take up to a week to result, further delaying the student’s registration/attendance in class. The Health Center is located at 857 E. Virginia, 409.880.8466. The Student Health Center will provide a list of alternative medical sites which also provide TB skin testing should students prefer to be tested elsewhere.

All students with a positive TB blood test will be referred to the Beaumont City Health Department (BCHD). All charges incurred at the BCHD or any other outside medical facility will be the responsibility of the student, faculty or staff. Failure to comply will result in the student prohibited from continuing their studies.

Anyone (student, faculty and staff) traveling to a country designated as a “high incidence area” defined greater than or equal to 20 cases per 100,000 population by the WHO, upon returning to campus, should immediately contact SHC for TB testing. All subsequent testing guidelines shall apply. All charges incurred will be applied to the appropriate Banner accounts.

Not a complete list. Call for availability and pricing. Remember, TB testing is a two-step process. There will be two visits needed to obtain results, regardless of where the test is done.