How often should employees be screened for TB?

• A. Within two weeks of employment and annually thereafter
• B. Only at hire
• C. Every three years
• D. Every six months

Answer: (C)

TB screening frequency is about balancing safety with practicality. After establishing a baseline screen when someone starts, a longer interval can be appropriate in settings with lower exposure risk, because it provides periodic reevaluation without subjecting every employee to repeated testing.

Screening every three years is the best fit here because it ensures employees are checked at a reasonable cadence while not imposing annual or even more frequent tests on all staff. It also leaves room for re-testing if there’s a known exposure or if symptoms develop.

Options that require testing within two weeks of hire and then annually are more burdensome and may be unnecessary in low-risk environments, while screening only at hire misses new infections that can develop after the initial screen. A six-month interval is more frequent than needed for general staff in many facilities and can divert resources from those at higher risk or with known exposures. Always align with your facility’s infection control policy and local guidelines, but the three-year interval reflects a balanced approach to ongoing TB risk management.