Part XI. Tuberculosis Control
12VAC5-90-225. Additional data to be reported related to persons with active tuberculosis disease (confirmed or suspected).
A. Physicians and directors of medical care facilities shall submit the following to the department:
1. An initial report to be completed when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a person has active TB disease, but no later than when antituberculosis drug therapy is initiated. The report shall include the following: the affected person's name; age; date of birth; gender; address; pertinent clinical, radiographic, microbiologic, and pathologic reports, whether pending or final; other information as may be needed to locate the patient for follow-up; and name, address, and telephone number of the treating physician.
2. A secondary report to be completed simultaneously or within one to two weeks following the initial report. The report shall include: the date, method, and results of tests for tuberculosis infection; the date and results of the initial and follow-up chest radiographs; the dates and results of bacteriologic or pathologic testing, the antituberculosis drug regimen, including names of the drugs, dosages and frequencies of administration, and start date; the date and results of drug susceptibility testing; HIV status; contact screening information; and name, address, and telephone number of treating physician.
3. Subsequent reports when updated information is available. Subsequent reports are required when clinical status changes, the treatment regimen changes; treatment ceases for any reason; or there are any updates to laboratory results, treatment adherence, name, address, and telephone number of current provider, patient location or contact information, or other additional clinical information.
B. Physicians or directors of medical care facilities responsible for the care of a patient with active tuberculosis disease shall develop and maintain a written treatment plan that shall be in place no later than the time when antituberculosis drug therapy is initiated. Patient adherence to this treatment plan must be documented. The treatment plan and adherence record are subject to review by the local health director or the local health director's designee at any time during the course of treatment.
C. The treatment plan for the following categories of patients shall be submitted to the local health director or the local health director's designee for approval no later than the time when antituberculosis drug therapy is started or modified:
1. Individuals who are inpatients or incarcerated, for whom the responsible provider or facility shall submit the treatment plan for approval prior to discharge or transfer.
2. Individuals, whether inpatient, incarcerated, or outpatient, who also have one of the following conditions:
a. HIV infection;
b. Known or suspected active TB disease resistant to rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, or other rifamycin with or without resistance to any other drug;
c. A history of prior treated or untreated active TB disease, or a history of relapsed active TB disease; or
d. A demonstrated history of nonadherence to any medical treatment regimen.
D. A laboratory director shall submit the following:
1. Results of smears that are positive for acid fast bacilli;
2. Results of cultures positive for any member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex or any other mycobacteria;
3. Results of rapid methodologies, including acid hybridization or nucleic acid amplification, which are indicative of M. tuberculosis complex or any other mycobacteria;
4. Results of tests for antimicrobial susceptibility performed on cultures positive for M. tuberculosis complex; and
5. Results of tests for tuberculosis infection.
Whether testing is done in-house or referred to an out-of-state laboratory, a laboratory director shall submit a representative and viable sample of the initial culture positive for any member of the M. tuberculosis complex to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services or other laboratory designated by the board to receive such specimen.
Statutory Authority
§§ 32.1-12, 32.1-35, and 32.1-42 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 21, eff. July 28, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 15, eff. May 2, 2007; Volume 27, Issue 13, eff. March 28, 2011; Volume 36, Issue 6, eff. December 26, 2019; Volume 41, Issue 26, eff. September 10, 2025.