TB Testing and Required Clearances

TB Testing

Visit 1/Step 1 (Day 1)

The PPD antigen is applied under the skin.

Visit 2/Step 2 (Day 3)

The PPD test is read.

If the first test is positive, it indicates that the individual is infected with TB. A chest X-ray and evaluation is necessary. If the individual is asymptomatic and the chest X-ray indicates no active disease, the individual can enter client care areas.

Visit 3/Step 3 (Day 7)

A second PPD skin test is applied to the individual who had a negative test result reading from the first skin test application. The second application of the PPD antigen must be administered no later than 21 days after the first step application or the two-step TB process is no longer valid.

Visit 4/Step 4 (Day 9)

The second test is read.

A positive second test indicates TB infection in the distant past. The individual is referred for a chest X-ray and evaluation by a physician. An asymptomatic individual whose chest X-ray indicates no active disease may enter client care areas. For those individuals who were vaccinated against TB with BCG vaccine, you still can be tested with PPD after a three-five year period after the BCG vaccination. Positive PPD tests at this point could indicate TB infection. Thus, a chest X-ray is necessary.

Required Clearances

Each applicant for employment or referral as a direct care worker is required to submit a criminal clearance report at the time of application that is within one year immediately preceding the date of application. If the individual required to submit or obtain a criminal history report has been a resident of Pennsylvania for two years preceding the date of the request for a criminal history report, the individual shall request a State Police criminal history record. If the individual required to submit or obtain a criminal history report has not been a resident of this Pennsylvania for the two years immediately preceding the date of the request for the criminal history record, the individual shall obtain a federal criminal history record (which requires FBI fingerprinting) and a letter of determination from the Department of Aging, based on the individual's federal criminal record. An offer of employment is provisional upon successful completion of these criminal background checks and review of them by the Administrator.

All copies of the State Police criminal history report or federal criminal record will be maintained in the employee file upon hire. All information obtained will be kept in the strictest confidence.