GP practices to provide latent TB screening for patients from high incidence countries and/or who have been exposed to social risk factors. 

Screening involves:

• Identifying eligible patients: at registration, through Flag4 data and/or an EMIS Web Search or on an ad hoc basis
• Taking a T-spot blood test sample on tQuest (order form T-SPOT-TB ) and sending it to the Homerton.
• Taking the appropriate next steps following the results of the test being issued

More information can be found in the City and Hackney Latent TB Screening Guide.

Incentives

Practices are paid the following for delivering Latent TB Screening:

• £25 per Latent TB test
• £2.50 per letter/text message/phone call inviting patient to attend appointment

Eligibility criteria

Inclusions

Criteria one

• Age 16-35
• Born or spent more than 6 months in a high incidence country (>150 TB cases per 100,000 population or Sub Saharan Africa)
• Entered the UK in the last 5 years (including entry via other countries)
• no previous history of TB or LBTI
• not previously screened for LTBI in the UK

Criteria two

• Age 16-35
• Social risk factor- current/ex drug user, ex-prisoner, homeless or was homeless, current alcohol misuse
• no previous history of TB or LBTI
• not previously screened for LTBI in the UK

NOTE:  pre-screening in their original country before arrival in the UK is not an exclusion criteria, nor is testing by chest x-ray or other testing for active TB in the UK