The mission of Collin County Tuberculosis Clinic is to prevent, control, and eliminate the spread of TB in Collin County. We plan to accomplish this mission by developing effective communication with providers and the public, providing quality diagnostic and treatment services, strengthening our surveillance and epidemiologic investigations, and improving the public's knowledge about the disease. As a county health department, we are well-equipped and qualified to perform all of the state's mandated tasks to accomplish our mission.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease. It was once the leading cause of death in the U.S. TB is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread through the air. Most TB disease occurs in the lungs but TB can affect any part of the body.

A person with active TB can pass the TB germs to others usually through coughing. Individuals with the following risk factors are more likely to develop TB:

• A weakened immune system, such as persons with HIV/AIDS, leukemia, cancer and other serious illnesses
• Recently infected with TB in the last two years
• Treated in the past for TB, but did not complete treatment or was not treated with the proper medications

The Collin County Health Care Services Tuberculosis Clinic offers screening for TB either through a TB skin test or a blood test to tell if you have the TB germs. Visit the Tuberculosis Elimination—Diagnosis Services section for more information. It is important that you obtain this test if you live with or have frequent close contact with someone with active TB or if you have HIV/AIDS. If you live with someone who has signs of TB the health department may ask you to be tested.

Tuberculosis Control, Prevention, and Elimination through CCHCS TB Clinic Services

The Collin County Health Care Services Tuberculosis Clinic provides our community with a wide range of services to control, prevent, and eliminate tuberculosis. Patients may be referred to the clinic, or walk in. When a patient has been diagnosed with either active or latent TB infection, the Collin County TB physician will work with the patient to devise a treatment plan. These services are free of cost and include:

• Receiving and acting on reports of patients with TB infection or who have active TB disease.
• Conducting regular epidemiology surveillance of TB cases within Collin County
• Providing general information, education, and consultations related to TB for area health care providers, hospitals, schools, day care centers, business owners, and other organizations/agencies.
• Accepting referrals from area health care providers for patients diagnosed with Latent TB Infection or active TB disease.
• Providing thorough evaluation and treatment for patients infected with TB, who have active TB disease, who are suspected of having active TB disease, and individuals who were exposed to a person with or suspected to have active TB disease.
• Conducting contact investigations to prevent the spread of tuberculosis
• The assignment of a Nurse Case Manager to oversee the treatment and progress of each case of active TB.
• Providing and delivering medication on a daily basis to patients who are required to have directly observed therapy at their home, school, work, or other mutually agreed upon location.
• Providing regular check-ups by clinical staff and a physician to monitor the effects of the prescribed medication and treatment progress.
• Placing referrals to other health care providers, local and state health departments, and other community assistance agencies as needed to help patients overcome obstacles to completing their tuberculosis treatment.
• Using additional legal measures, such as court-ordered isolation and/or quarantine, to prevent the spread of tuberculosis when a patient does not follow their treatment plan as ordered by the Local Health Authority.

Effective communication between the health department, provider, and the patient is very important in making sure that the TB case is being treated and controlled adequately. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact our clinic staff members at 972-548-5510.

Clinic Locations and Hours of Operation

Collin County TB Clinic is located at:

Tuberculosis Prevention—Reporting

TB is listed as one of the required reportable conditions according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services. The State of Texas requires all suspected or diagnosed cases of TB to be reported WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY to the Local Health Authority and all occurrences of Latent TB Infection (LTBI) no later than one week after diagnosis. Doctors, hospitals, labs, etc. are required by law to report TB infections (both latent and active) to the local public health department.

To report a TB case, download and print the Collin County TB Suspect/Case Report form and FAX the completed form to 972-548-5514 or 972-548-4443. If you have questions about reporting, concerns, or would like to call in your report, please contact our clinic staff members at 972-548-5510.

For additional information on the Texas laws related to reporting tuberculosis , please refer to the Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 97, Subchapter H, Rule 97.178

Tuberculosis Elimination—Diagnostic Services

The Collin County Health Care Services TB Clinic provides TB screening in the form of a TB skin test (TST) to county residents. The usual charge for a TB skin test is $20. Although appointments for skin testing are not necessary, please note: Patients are required to make two visits to the facility. The first visit is to receive the test, and the second visit, which takes place after 48 to 72 hours, is for the test to be checked by the TB nurse. Please note the following important reminders:

• You will be informed of the date when the TB Skin Test is to be read prior to administration.
• If you cannot return for the reading, the screening test should be rescheduled.
• You will receive documentation of the receipt of a TB Skin Test screening when results are read.
• All TB Skin Tests administered by health department staff will be read by health department staff.
• TB Skin Tests administered elsewhere will not be read by health department staff except in special circumstances. Readings will be done only when full documentation of the TB Skin Test is provided, including when and where the test was administered.

In addition to administering the TB screening test, any person identified as having a positive TB skin test placed and read by Collin County staff will be referred for a chest x-ray, and a follow-up evaluation with the Collin County TB physician will be scheduled. In some instances a TB blood test or IGRA (interferon-gamma release assay) may be drawn instead of a TB skin test, and only when ordered by the Collin County TB physician. A chest x-ray is indicated following a positive TB screening test. Patients will be provided with a chest x-ray referral form to take to a radiology center and a follow up appointment will be scheduled. Note that individuals are responsible for the cost of the chest x-ray.

For individuals going through the immigration process who need clearance for tuberculosis and/or documentation from the local health department, please call our TB clinic staff members at 972-548-5510 for more information and to schedule an appointment. Any vaccines required are assessed through the Immunization Program.

The following are the days of administration and corresponding days of reading for the TB screening test. TB skin tests are not performed on Thursdays.

Program Manager: Candice Akins, RN
Email: cakins@collincountytx.gov
Phone: 972-548-5510
Fax: 972-548-5514

Questions and Answers about TB (CDC)
TB Education Center (TX DSHS)
The American Lung Association