Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: January 11, 2008
Contact: Helen Drew, 401-641-8714

Department of Health Reports Results of TB Testing at Central Falls High School

Today, the Department of Health (HEALTH) nearly completed the first phase of tuberculosis (TB) skin testing at Central Falls High School. The testing was done in response to a report of a student there with an active case of TB.

No new cases of active TB were identified through the testing and a smaller than expected number of staff and students had positive skin test results (approximately 5%). These students and staff may or may not have latent TB from some past exposure. All of the individuals are being evaluated at the RISE TB Specialty Clinic to determine if the skin test results are false positives or if the individuals may have latent TB (a non-contagious form of TB). There was no difference in the percentage of students with positive skin test results who were close contacts (classmates or friends of the student) compared to those who are not as close contacts (other 11 th or 12 th graders). These data are preliminary and HEALTH will continue to analyze them. Only students and staff who tested negative in this phase will be re-tested in 10 weeks.

“This result is very reassuring. At any time, in any group of people in the United States who are tested for TB, we expect to see between 5 to 15% of people with positive skin test results,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “A positive skin test in people without symptoms represents either a false positive test or a case of latent TB that they have had for some time. People with latent TB are not contagious.”

The RISE staff who tested students at Central Falls High School reported that the students were extremely cooperative, respectful, and mature throughout the process, including those whose skin test results were positive.

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