Should employers offer mass TB screening to employees?
Mass TB screening (skin tests) is not recommended in most general workplace environments. According to the CDC and TB medical experts, there is no indication for mass TB screening of employees in low-risk occupational settings. In the event that an employee develops active TB, local public health authorities should be informed so they can contact other people who may have been exposed in the household or the workplace. In some work environments, the risk of TB transmission may be higher than in the general workplace (e.g., hospitals, correctional facilities). An employer-organized TB skin testing program should be available in those specific settings.
