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Shortage in tuberculin testing material
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Posted on Sep 02 2019
The Commonwealth Health Care Corp. is currently experiencing a shortage of the chemical that is used to administer the skin test for tuberculosis.
In a previous notice to CHCC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is expecting a three- to 10-month nationwide shortage of Aplisol, one of two chemicals called “purified protein derivative tuberculin antigens” licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in performing tuberculin skin tests.
With the shortage, CHCC right now has a ranking of who should undergo the skin test.
“We had to prioritize a number of high-risk groups of patients for PPD testing use,” said CHCC spokesperson Zoe Travis.
That has been in effect at the Commonwealth Health Center’s Chest Clinic since last July, she added.
Those high-risk groups are:
– Patients exhibiting signs and symptoms concerning for active tuberculosis.
– Patients who have household contacts or close contacts of a patient diagnosed with active tuberculosis.
– Healthcare professionals
– Children who are entering the school system (public or private) for the first time in the Commonwealth.
– Elderly who are to be enrolled at the Man’amko Center given their higher likelihood of medical comorbidities and close proximity of association with other elderly persons.
– Department of Corrections inmates since they are housed in very close quarters.
“For all others, we recommend symptoms assessment by a medical provider to ensure that they do not have any sign or symptoms of active tuberculosis,” Travis said.
The manufacturer of Aplisol informed the CDC that they anticipate a supply interruption of Aplisol 5ml (capable of 50 tests) beginning last June, followed by a supply interruption of Aplisol 1ml (capable of 10 tests) in November.
The shortage could occur earlier than November, depending on the amount of demand. The CDC clarified that the three to ten-month timeframe on the nationwide shortage is the manufacturer’s current estimate and is subject to change.
