South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-22 - THE EVALUATION OF STAFF OF SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE CENTERS FOR TUBERCULOSIS
61-22.I - PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The General Assembly, in sections 44-29-150 through 44-29-170 of the 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws, charged the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control with approving guidelines for the evaluation for tuberculosis of persons working in a public or private school, kindergarten, nursery or day care center for infants and children (Registered family child care homes are exempt from the requirements of these guidelines). As more fully set forth below, as a prerequisite to employment and as a condition of continued employment, all persons to whom these guidelines apply shall be evaluated for tuberculosis and shall provide certification on a form designated by the Department that the person does not have tuberculosis in an active stage. Re-evaluation will not be required for employment in subsequent consecutive years unless otherwise indicated.

These guidelines modernize the approach to screening for tuberculosis and take into account contemporary scientific and epidemiologic principles. Under these guidelines, most school employees will need to be evaluated for tuberculosis only one time and will not be required to be screened annually absent certain factors. Non-routine screening is based on epidemiologic and clinical information and is combined with an underlying policy concerning preventive treatment of tuberculosis disease and infection. These guidelines will afford children greater protection against exposure to tuberculosis in the school, kindergarten, nursery and day care center environments.