| Requirement in
brief The University of Michigan (UM) requires
certain entering international students to be screened for tuberculosis
(TB). All UM campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint) participate.
Am I required to be screened? You
must be screened for TB if you answer Yes to ALL of the following
three questions.
- Are you an entering UM international student with an F-1 or J-1 visa type?
- Did the UM issue your Form I-20 or DS-2019?
- Are you a citizen of one of the following countries (identified
by the World Health Organization) according
to your I-20 or DS-2019?
| Afghanistan |
Indonesia |
South Africa |
| Bangladesh |
Kenya |
Taiwan |
| Brazil |
Mozambique |
Thailand |
| Cambodia |
Myanmar |
United Republic of Tanzania |
| China (includes Hong Kong) |
Nigeria |
Uganda |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Pakistan |
Vietnam |
| Ethiopia |
Philippines |
Zimbabwe |
| India |
Russian Federation |
|
How can I be screened?
First, be sure you need to be screened. Not all international students
need to be screened. See Am I required to be screened?
If you are a student starting at UM in Spring/Summer 2008, follow instructions sent via email to your umich
email account (Subject: Mandatory TB Screening), or send an email with questions to
tbscreen@umich.edu.
If you are a student starting at UM in Fall 2008, you can schedule
your TB screening online at Scheduling after July 1, 2008.
If you have documentation of prior TB screening, you still need to schedule an appointment for TB screening. Please bring documentation
with you when you come for that appointment. A health care provider will check your documentation to make sure it is acceptable. See more on
documentation.
Why do I need to be screened for TB? The US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the Michigan Advisory Committee for Elimination of Tuberculosis recommend screening individuals from countries
where TB is relatively common. The UM Executive Officers approved this policy in 2004 (see
Tuberculosis Screening Mandate). A TB test can detect whether you have TB infection and if so, you can get treatment.
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Who identified the countries? The
World Health Organization (WHO) identified the countries, which
together account for 80% of the world's TB cases. See the Stop
TB Partnership website for a summary.
What if I don't comply with the screening
requirement? You will not be allowed to register for
your second semester until you are screened for TB, which will also
affect your ability to stay in the US on an F-1 or J-1 visa sponsored
by the UM. Please be screened as soon as possible during your first
semester so that you can register for your second semester classes,
certainly before the busy finals period.
What if I have dual or multiple citizenships/nationalities? Whether you must be screened for TB will be
determined by your citizenship/nationality stated on your Form I-20 for F-1 students, and Form DS-2019 for J-1 students.
I already had a TB test
(or treatment). Can I meet the requirement by bringing documentation? You
still need to make an appointment for screening. You can meet the
requirement by providing the following documentation IN ENGLISH:
- Negative TB skin test with patient's name, reaction size in millimeters,
done within a year of starting UM classes OR
- Positive skin test with patient's name, reaction size in millimeters
AND normal chest x-ray (report preferred) OR
- Negative QuantiFERON-TB Gold test with patient's name done within
a year of starting UM classes OR
- Positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold test with patient's name AND normal
chest x-ray (report preferred) OR
- Completed treatment for active or inactive TB.
The following types of documentation are not acceptable:
- Tine test
- QuantiFERON test
- Chest x-ray only
- T-SPOT test
Do you have a form for documentation? Yes,
Documentation for International Mandatory Tuberculosis (TB) Screening
(PDF) can be used by a health care provider to document prior testing. If desired, please bring documentation
using this form (or another form in English) to your screening appointment.
What is the process for screening? You
will meet with a health care provider, who will review your screening
requirement and any documentation you bring. (Specific dates/times
for screening clinics will be announced later.) If needed, you will
have a TB skin test.
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What is the process for TB skin
testing? First, you will meet with a health care provider
to be injected with a small amount of fluid called PPD under the
top layer of skin on your lower arm.
Next, you will need to return in person 48-72 hours later for the test reaction on your arm to be examined.
- If the reaction is not significant, or there is no reaction
(negative), then you have no TB infection.
- If the reaction of your arm is significant (positive), a chest x-ray will be required to check for active TB in the lungs.
What if my TB test is positive? A chest x-ray will be required to check for active TB in the
lungs.
- If the chest x-ray is normal and you have no symptoms of active
TB, you most likely have inactive TB.
- If you have an abnormal chest x-ray or symptoms of active TB, you may be required to have additional tests.
What are the side effects of the test? The TB skin test will not make you sick. It may cause
swelling, itching or tenderness at the injection site, which usually disappears within a week. You can continue normal activities including
washing your arm after the test.
What if I am diagnosed with TB infection?
- Most people have inactive TB, which cannot be transmitted and
does not cause symptoms. Treatment with antibiotics is recommended
in order to prevent active TB. You can attend school normally.
- Active TB can be transmitted and is very serious, possibly causing permanent damage and even death. It is curable with appropriate medicine,
and treatment with antibiotics is required.
Will TB test results affect my visa
or student status? Having TB will NOT affect your
visa or student status. Students who have TB infection are not discriminated
against in any way. UHS must report cases of active TB (not inactive
TB) to county health departments for investigation of possible transmission
of others. Otherwise, health records at UHS are confidential and
cannot be released without patient consent. Your TB test result
will not appear on your academic documents.
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How much would treatment cost? For
students on the Ann Arbor campus, UHS will provide most health care
at no additional cost. Insurance helps to pay for any services outside
of UHS or on other campuses. Cost for medication for individuals
with inactive TB is minimal (less than $3 per month for students
with the UM International Student/Visiting Scholar Health Insurance
Plan). If you have been previously diagnosed with TB (active or
inactive), there may be some restrictions on health insurance coverage
outside of UHS.
I got BCG vaccine in my country. Do I still need to test? Many international students received BCG
vaccine, which reduced their TB risk as children. However, BCG vaccine effectiveness declines with time. The vaccine generally does not cause a
positive skin test if you were vaccinated more than ten years ago. TB infection causes most positive skin tests.
Do others (e.g. international scholars, family members, travelers to the countries listed by WHO) have to
be screened for TB? TB screening is encouraged for others at risk but not required by the University of Michigan. TB skin
testing is available at minimal cost on the UM Ann Arbor campus as follows:
UHS Allergy, Immunization and Travel Health Clinic
(for individuals 10 years and older)
207 Fletcher Street
734-764-8304
See also Tuberculosis
and Testing and Location and Parking
North Campus Family Health Service
2364 Bishop
734-647-1636
For more information including Flint and Dearborn campuses, please contact the following
UM offices.
Ann Arbor campus:
Email University Health Service at tbscreen@umich.edu
 |
Erika Kido
Coordinator, International Mandatory Tuberculosis Screening
Ann Arbor campus |
Dearborn campus:
Suzette Crandell
UM Dearborn Counseling and Support Services
Phone 313-593-5430
Email counseling@umd.umich.edu
Flint campus:
Ree Ann Slagor, RN, MSN, APRN-BC
UM Flint Health Services
Phone 810-424-5269
Email rslagor@umflint.edu
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