The Commonwealth Health Care Corp. is currently experiencing a shortage of the chemical that is used to administer the skin test for tuberculosis.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cpurified protein derivative tuberculin antigens\u201d licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in performing tuberculin skin tests.<\/p>\n
With the shortage, CHCC right now has a ranking of who should undergo the skin test. <\/p>\n
“We had to prioritize a number of high-risk groups of patients for PPD testing use,” said CHCC spokesperson Zoe Travis. <\/p>\n
That has been in effect at the Commonwealth Health Center\u2019s Chest Clinic since last July, she added.<\/p>\n
Those high-risk groups are:<\/p>\n
– Patients exhibiting signs and symptoms concerning for active tuberculosis.<\/p>\n
– Patients who have household contacts or close contacts of a patient diagnosed with active tuberculosis.<\/p>\n
– Healthcare professionals<\/p>\n
– Children who are entering the school system (public or private) for the first time in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
– 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.<\/p>\n
– Department of Corrections inmates since they are housed in very close quarters.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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