TB Reporting Requirements for Health Care Providers

Health Care Providers are required by Florida Statute (pdf 75 kb). to report all tuberculosis suspects and/or cases, within 72 hours of diagnosis, to the health department in the county in which the patient lives or your office is located. For reporting codes, see Florida Administrative Code 64D-3  (pdf 141.0 kb).

Who Must Report?

Each individual who makes a diagnosis of or provides medical services to a person with suspected or confirmed active tuberculosis.

What Must Be Reported?

The following information must be reported to the health department:

• Patient demographic information, including name, address, home telephone number, date of birth, race and sex.
• Pertinent diagnostic information including, but not limited to results of Mantoux skin tests, laboratory tests, radiographic examinations and physical examinations.
• Name, title, address and telephone number of the diagnosing physician or individual submitting the report.
  

How Do I Report?

Reports must be submitted to the County Health Department by telephone, fax or mail within 72 hours of diagnosis.

Reports should be submitted to the health department in the county in which:

• the patient lives or
• your office is located

This link is a List of County Health Department telephone and fax numbers.

Subsequent Status Reports

Status reports on the patient's treatment and progress must be submitted to the county health department every three months until the case is closed and follow-up is completed.

Definitions:

A person has active tuberculosis when either of the following occur:

(a) A culture specimen taken from any source has tested positive for tuberculosis and the person has not completed an appropriate prescribed course of medication for tuberculosis disease, or

(b) There is current radiologic, clinical, or laboratory evidence sufficient to establish a medical diagnosis of tuberculosis for which treatment is indicated and the person has not completed an appropriate prescribed course of medication for tuberculosis.

A TB Suspect is a client who fits one or more of the following categories:

(a) A client who has any signs or symptoms suggestive of TB, such as a prolonged productive cough of over two weeks duration, unexplained low grade fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, hemoptysis, or easy fatigueability.

(b) A client who has chest radiographic findings suggestive of tuberculosis

(c) A client whose sputum smears indicate acid fast bacilli (AFB).

NOTE: A client who is suspected of having tuberculosis may or may not have a positive tuberculin skin test (PPD).

A TB Case is a client who fits one of the following categories:

(a) A client whose specimen tests positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis on culture.

(b) A client who has negative cultures but has a positive tuberculin skin test, is on two or more anti-tuberculosis medications, has signs and symptoms compatible with tuberculosis, and shows radiographic or clinical improvement while on two or more anti-tuberculosis medications.