Tuberculosis: Provider Resources - NYC Health

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Immunizations

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Infectious Diseases

Health Care-Associated Infections

Children and Adolescents

Immigrant Health


Tuberculosis: Provider Resources

Guidelines for Treating Latent TB Infection

On February 13, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA) published "Guidelines for the Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection" in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Recommendations and Reports, the first comprehensive update since 2000.

CDC and NTCA preferentially recommend short-course, 3- or 4-month LTBI treatment regimens over 6- or 9-month isoniazid monotherapy.

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a life-threatening problem in New York City. Eliminating TB requires the collaboration of the Health Department, health care providers, and communities.

To refer a patient to an NYC Health Department Chest Center, call 311 or a Chest Center location directly. To get expert medical consultation about TB and latent TB infection or to report suspected or confirmed TB cases, call the TB Provider Hotline at 844-713-0559. Chest Centers are located at:

Fort Greene Chest Center: 295 Flatbush Avenue Extension Fourth Floor, Brooklyn | Phone: 718-249-1468

Morrisania Chest Center: 1309 Fulton Avenue, First Floor, Bronx | Phone: 718-838-6876

Corona Chest Center: 34-33 Junction Boulevard, Second Floor, Queens | Phone: 718-396-5134

For information about TB and how the City is working to eliminate it as a health problem, download the 2023 Bureau of Tuberculosis Control Annual Summary (PDF).

Sign up for the Health Department’s TB Action News to receive updates on TB news, events and other notices.

Health Department TB Clinics offer TB services and drugs free of charge.

Clinical Policies and Program Manual

Resources for Patients

Data and Statistics

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Reporting Requirements

As of November 18, 2019, the NYC Health Code requires laboratories to report ALL test results for tuberculosis (TB) infection, including negative and indeterminate results, for ALL persons tested regardless of age. This change applies only to laboratories. For more information, view the NYC Health Code.

By law, medical, dental and osteopathic and other health care providers and infection control practitioners and administrators of hospital or other institutions providing care and treatment, are required to report all suspected or confirmed cases of TB within 24 hours of diagnosis or clinical suspicion.

Medical providers must report these patients even though microbiologists and pathologists are also required to report findings consistent with TB. Under certain circumstances, providers may need to submit an updated or corrected report.

Reporting requirements for suspected and confirmed TB cases (PDF)

Required Reporting of Latent TB Infection (LTBI) in Children Under Five (January 2017) (PDF)

How to Report

Electronically (Preferred Method)

Providers must create an account at NYCMED (for help, call (888) 692-6339) and submit an electronic Universal Reporting Form.

Laboratories must report through NY State's Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System (ECLRS)

A portion of the initial culture must be sent for DNA analysis to the NYC Public Health Laboratory (455 First Avenue, Room 236; New York, NY 10016) within 24 hours of observing growth of M. tuberculosis complex in a culture from any specimen.

Via Telephone

Call the TB Provider Hotline, (844) 713-0559 (toll-free), to make an initial report within 24 hours of diagnosis. A representative will take your call Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM. At other times, a recorded message will provide reporting instructions.

Within 48 hours, mail a hard copy of the completed Universal Reporting Form (PDF) to:

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

42-09 28th Street, CN #22

Long Island City, NY 11101

Via Fax

Fax the completed Universal Reporting Form to (844) 713-0557/0558 (toll-free) within 24 hours of diagnosis.

Mail a hard copy of the form to the Health Department at the address shown above within 48 hours.

Via Mail

Mail the completed Universal Reporting Form to the Health Department at the address shown above within 24 hours of diagnosis. To meet the 24-hour deadline, use an overnight courier.

Testing and Diagnosis Guidelines

Testing requirements for school-aged children (PDF)

Screening individuals with positive test for TB infection (PDF)

Use of Interferon Gamma Release Assays to detect M.tb Infection

Treatment

Mail or fax the following forms to the Health Department for each patient being treated for active TB:

TB Treatment Plan (PDF) — must be submitted within one month of initiating treatment. Your patient's case manager will provide you with the form.

Report of Patient Services (TB 65) (PDF) – must be submitted for every monthly visit.

Refer a patient for Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) using the DOT Referral Form (PDF)

Report treatment for Latent TB Infection (LTBI) by submitting the Latent TB Infection Therapy Report (TB 78) (PDF) via mail or fax.

Guidance on Isoniazid/Rifapentine Regimen (3HP) for LTBI

Discharge of an Infectious (Sputum Smear Positive) TB Patient

The New York City Health Code mandates health care providers to obtain approval from the Health Department at least 72 hours prior to discharging infectious TB patients from the hospital. Weekend and holiday discharge arrangements should be made in advance.

To request discharge approval, fax the Hospital Discharge Approval Request Form to (844) 713-0557/0558 (toll-free) between 8 AM and 5 PM. Within 24 hours, the Health Department will notify the provider of any additional information or actions required for approval prior to discharge.

Use the Hospital Discharge Planning Checklist (PDF) to help determine whether a patient may be discharged.

More Information

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Action Kit