TB Test Safety and Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency mandates TB testing requirements for healthcare workers in the United States?
- FDA
- OSHA (Correct answer)
- CDC
- DEA
Correct answer: OSHA
OSHA sets occupational health and safety standards, including TB exposure controls, for healthcare workplaces.
Question 2: A healthcare worker with a newly positive TST but no symptoms should first:
- Begin immediate TB drug treatment
- Be placed in airborne isolation
- Receive a chest X-ray and clinical evaluation (Correct answer)
- Resign from patient care duties
Correct answer: Receive a chest X-ray and clinical evaluation
A newly positive TST indicates infection but not necessarily active disease, so a chest X-ray and clinical evaluation are required to rule out active TB.
Question 3: What is the minimum number of air changes per hour (ACH) required for an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR)?
- 6 ACH
- 12 ACH (Correct answer)
- 18 ACH
- 24 ACH
Correct answer: 12 ACH
CDC guidelines require a minimum of 12 air changes per hour in airborne infection isolation rooms to reduce TB transmission.
Question 4: Workplace TB exposure control plans must be reviewed and updated:
- Every 5 years
- Only after a documented TB case occurs
- Annually or when conditions change (Correct answer)
- Every time staff are hired
Correct answer: Annually or when conditions change
Exposure control plans should be reviewed at least annually and updated whenever there are changes in risk level, procedures, or regulations.
Question 5: Which respirator is the minimum standard for entering the room of a suspected active TB patient?
- Standard surgical mask
- N95 respirator (Correct answer)
- N99 respirator
- Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR)
Correct answer: N95 respirator
An N95 respirator is the minimum CDC-recommended protection for healthcare workers entering airborne infection isolation rooms.
Question 6: What action must be taken before a healthcare worker is permitted to use an N95 respirator for TB protection?
- Complete a 40-hour safety course
- Pass a fit test (Correct answer)
- Obtain a physician prescription
- Receive BCG vaccination
Correct answer: Pass a fit test
OSHA requires a fit test to ensure the N95 respirator creates an adequate seal on the wearer's face.
Question 7: In a high-risk healthcare setting, how frequently should TST or IGRA surveillance testing be conducted for TB-negative employees?
- Every 5 years
- Every 3 years
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Only at initial hire
Correct answer: Annually
CDC recommends annual TB testing for healthcare workers in high-risk settings to detect new infections promptly.
TB Test Safety and Compliance 2
Which federal agency mandates TB testing requirements for healthcare workers in the United States?