Tuberculosis Rules and Statutes

Summary of Rules

• Health Care Providers and Laboratories must report cases or suspect cases of TB disease within 1 working day to the Local Public Health Authority (See Division 18 OAR 333-018-000, 333-018-005, 333-018-0010, 333-018-0015)
• Licensed Laboratories are required to forward M. tuberculosis isolates to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory ( See Division 18 OAR 333-018-0018)

• Division 19 OAR 333-019-0041  

  • (1) Each Health Care Facility shall formally assess the risk of tuberculosis transmission among staff (professional and volunteer), residents, and patients at least annually and shall follow tuberculosis screening recommendations outlined in "Guideline for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings, 2005 (pdf),"  (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 54, Number RR-17: 1-141; December 30, 2005) or otherwise approved by DHS.

  • (2) Each facility specified below shall formally assess the risk of tuberculosis transmission among staff (professional and volunteer), residents, inmates, and patients at least annually and shall follow appropriate tuberculosis screening recommendations as outlined in the relevant publication or as otherwise approved by DHS:
    • (a) Correctional Facilities: “Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention Facilities Detention Facilities, 2006 (pdf)" (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 55, Number RR09: 1-44: July 7, 2006).
    • (b) Long Term Care Facilities for the Elderly: "Prevention and control of tuberculosis in facilities providing long-term care to the elderly. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee for Elimination of Tuberculosis," published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 39, RR-10, pp. 7-20; July 13, 1990) and "Guideline for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings, 2005 (pdf)," (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 54, Number RR-17: 1-141; December 30, 2005).
    • (c) Homeless Shelters: "Prevention and control of tuberculosis among homeless persons," published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 41, RR-5, pp. 13-23; April 17, 1992)  
• NOTE: School Rule OAR 333-019-0041 (3) has been dropped from the Administrative Rules (since summer 2005). Public schools are no longer required to do TB screening on selected foreign-born students entering Oregon schools under state law. However, each local health authority may elect to mandate targeted TB testing on populations within their jurisdition whom they determine are at high risk for TB. Please consult your local health authority prior to any TB school screening.

       Isolation and Quarantine 

• ORS 433.121 addresses public health emergency administrative orders for isolation and quarantine.