Fairfax County Health Department to Offer TB Testing at Lee High School Saturday

The Fairfax County Health Department is expanding its tuberculosis contact investigation at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, according to a news release on Monday. The investigation was originally initiated in June after three individuals in the school were diagnosed with active TB disease.

The department now recommends screening and testing for TB infection for all Lee High School 2012-2013 students, faculty, and support staff. According to the news release, approximately 20 others have been identified as meeting the department’s exposure criteria. This criteria is based on having spent a significant amount of time in the school on multiple occasions and in places where TB transmission may have occurred during the recent school year.

On July 19, the health department — in coordination with Fairfax County Public Schools — sent out about 1,900 letters to inform the school community of its recommendation.

According to the health department, there are currently no ongoing transmission of TB at Lee High School and the vast majority of the Lee High School community was not at high risk of exposure to TB. The health department's expansion of testing is to ensure that everyone who may have been exposed to TB is identified.

The department is only recommending that those who receive a letter be tested for the TB disease. Special clinics have been scheduled in the coming weeks at the high school. Because the TB test is a two-step process, it is important that when selecting a date for the skin test, the individual is also able to return on the corresponding date for a health care worker to determine whether the test is positive or negative. Returning any other time will require that the skin test be repeated.

TB Test Schedule at Lee High School:

• Skin Test:  Saturday, August 3, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Return for Results:  Monday, August 5, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Skin Test:  Saturday, August 3, 12 – 6 p.m. – Return for Results:  Tuesday, August 6, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Skin Test:  Monday, August 5, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Return for Results:  Wednesday, August 7, 12 – 4 p.m.
• Skin Test:  Tuesday, August 6, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Return for Skin Test:  Thursday, August 8, 12 – 4 p.m.
• Skin Test:  Saturday, August 10, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Return for Results:  Monday, August 12, 12 – 4 p.m.