TB Testing and Hepatitis B Immunizations
These policies were enacted to protect the health and safety of employees and students who may be exposed to certain biohazards in the campus and clinic working environments.
Tuberculosis Screening
All faculty, staff and students who work or have shifts at Bastyr University clinics are required to be screened for tuberculosis (TB). Bastyr University California (BUC San Diego) requires annual screening. BCNH (the teaching clinic for Bastyr University Kenmore) requires screening once-upon entry and does not need to be repeated unless there is an outbreak. (Offsites and preceptorship locations may require additional screening). Two screening options are available: tuberculosis skin test (TST, also called PPD) or QuantiFERON blood test (QFT). Initial TST must be two-step TST (4-visits, 2 plants, 2 reads).
Bastyr provides one TB testing clinic each year in the fall at each location (California clinic and Kenmore campus), and all are encouraged to have their screening performed in sync with these week-long clinics, called TB Weeks. Students pay $10 per test toward the cost of their TST during the TB Week clinic or $20 per test if they make an appointment at one of the University clinics. QFT is available at LabCorp for an approximate cost of $120. (Lab will bill patient or insurance).
If a student gets a positive result on the TST or QFT, they will need to get a chest X-ray. A Bastyr physician will refer them to get the X-ray. If a chest X-ray is necessary, Bastyr University agrees to pay 50 percent up to $40 toward this cost. A reimbursement form should be completed and is available at the Student Services Resource Center or on MyBU. Request for reimbursement must be received within 60 days of the date of service.
Bastyr personnel with documented history of positive test (TST or QFT) are exempt from testing. The screening process is review of symptom questionnaire and a chest X-ray within one year of hire/entry. Annual questionnaires are required at BUC San Diego.
TB screening shall be started the first week of work for all faculty and staff, and must be completed before students in clinical programs begin their clinic rotations. Information about TB Screening and TB Weeks is given to students in one of their required clinic courses. Questions regarding TB screening can be addressed to the Clinic Compliance Specialist.
Hepatitis B Immunizations
The following groups of people are required to provide documentation of either hepatitis B immunization series (3 doses) or immunity to hepatitis B (titer) or complete the online waiver form along with a release of liability: all students in clinical programs, all clinical faculty and all laboratory and operations assistants who are category I (those who have daily exposure to blood or body fluids) and category II (those who have occasional exposure to blood or body fluids).
Bastyr University agrees to pay 50 percent of the cost of the hepatitis B immunization series for students. A reimbursement form should be completed and is available at the Student Services Resource Center or on MyBU. Request for reimbursement must be received within 60 days of the date of service.
Note: All students are required to pay in full the cost of testing antibody levels for any of the agents listed above, if they choose to check for individual immunity, prior to waiving or taking any immunizations.
Anyone who has elected to waive the immunization series has the option to change that election, at any time, and take the immunization series and submit documentation to the clinic compliance specialist who will update their record.
Commencement of the immunization series (or submission of a waiver) shall occur before the first day of work for all faculty and staff, and before students in clinical programs begin their clinic rotations. Hepatitis immunization information and location of online waiver form is distributed to students in one of their required clinical courses. Hepatitis immunization questions can be directed to the blood borne pathogen safety office.