All new employees need to complete a two-step TB skin test, consisting of two separate tests at least one week apart. The second TB test must be read within 48-72 hours of administration by our employee health staff.
If you provide proof of TB testing in the past 12 months, the following guidelines apply:
- Only one TB test is needed if you’ve already had one negative TB test in the past year.
- No further TB testing is needed if you’ve had two negative TB tests in the past year and the most recent test was within 90 days of employment.
If you’ve had a positive reaction to a previous TB test, you’ll need to complete a questionnaire and have a baseline chest X-ray unless you have proof of one done within the past year.
All new employees must complete a basic latex questionnaire during their initial medical screening.
If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you’ll need to fill out a more extensive questionnaire and have an examination to determine if a RAST blood test is needed. The results of the test will determine your clearance for work.
Newly hired employees are required to provide documented proof that they’re immune to the following diseases:
- Rubeola (measles)
- Rubella (German measles)
- Mumps
- Chicken pox
This documentation must come from a healthcare provider and state one of the following for each virus:
- You’ve had the disease
- You’ve had a positive titer (blood test result) for the disease
- You’ve had the required vaccinations for the disease
If you do not have proof of immunity, your initial medical screening will include a blood draw. If the titer result is positive, no vaccine is needed. If the titer is low or negative, you will need the required vaccines to obtain immunity, which must be completed within the first month of employment:
- Measles or mumps—Two measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccines a month apart
- Rubella—One MMR vaccine
- Chicken pox – Two vaccines a month apart
New employees who provide direct care to patients must meet the following requirements:
- If you have completed the hepatitis B vaccine series, sign the acknowledgement and authorization form during your initial medical screening.
- If you have not completed the hepatitis B vaccine series, sign the acknowledgement and authorization form to receive or decline the vaccine. You’ll sign this form after you have participated in blood-borne pathogen training or within 10 days of your start date.
- If you consent to receive the hepatitis B vaccine series, you have 90 days to receive the first vaccine. The schedule for the series will be given to you at the time of your first vaccine. If you’re 90 days late in receiving any of the three vaccines, you’ll be considered to have waived the series.