Which statement about TB screening timing for facility staff is accurate?

• A. Only at hire
• B. Every five years
• C. Within 2 weeks of hire and annually
• D. Upon request

Answer: (C)

Scheduling and timing for TB screening is about catching latent TB infection early and preventing possible transmission in a facility. The best approach is to screen within two weeks of hire to establish a baseline, and then repeat screening annually to detect any new infection that may have occurred since starting work. This keeps surveillance proactive in a setting where staff have ongoing exposure risks. Screening only at hire would miss infections acquired later; a five-year interval is too long for effective protection, and screening only upon request isn’t a consistent safety practice. So, screening within two weeks of hire and annually provides both an initial check and ongoing monitoring.