Angela,
Thank you for sharing this question, I bet it will be different for each state. A few years before COVID our ICE facility moved to using commercial labs to process sputum because our state lab took a few days to run the PCR and the facility
wanted more expedited results. I’d say this has added some barriers to our visibility on culture completion results, but our facility is responsive and has provides results of cultures in a timely manner. I have not heard of “non-residents” being denied testing
at the WA State at the State lab.
To prevent an evaluation slipping through the cracks and exposing folks in a high risk setting, I wonder if a TB medical consultant review of CXRs would help fine tune who gets sputum? Our TB medical consultant opens communication to medical
director of the facility to offer support.
Happy to chat anytime!
😊
Lana Kay Dov, MSN RN
(she/her)
Tuberculosis Nurse Consultant
Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Division of Disease Control & Health Statistics
Washington State Department of Health
206-418-5581 |
www.doh.wa.gov
From: tbnurses@ntca.simplelists.com <tbnurses@ntca.simplelists.com>
On Behalf Of Angela Blanchard (LDH)
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2023 9:02 AM
To: tbnurses@ntca.simplelists.com
Subject: TB Sputum Lab Testing for ICE Facilities
External Email
Good morning,
We have had issues with private labs testing sputum specimens for ICE facilities. It is my understanding that there are certain labs that receive federal funds to cover the costs of detainee medical care. Also, our state public health
lab cannot use state taxpayer money to run labs on non-Louisiana residents. If there other states having similar issues, how are you handling such situations? Do any other states have a way for payments to be made by ICE facilities for lab testing at your
state public health lab? Does anyone have ideas or recommendations to help these facilities?
Thank you,
Angie
Angela Blanchard, BSN, RN
Nurse Consultant
Tuberculosis Control Program
220 W. Willow, Bldg. A
Lafayette, LA 70501
Office 337-262-5616, ext. 203
Cell 337-288-6179
Fax 337-262-1310
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