Local Public Health

This page offers resources to assist public health professionals in performing tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control activities. If you are a new professional at a Washington State Local Health Jurisdiction, please read the Tuberculosis Welcome Packet (PDF). Resources are listed in alphabetical order under each topic heading. TB topics include:

• Case Management
• Testing and Treatment
• Reporting

Having trouble finding a resource? Try searching by key words or publication number in the Google Custom Search bar (on upper right corner of the page). If you need assistance finding a resource or have resource suggestions, please email tbservices@doh.wa.gov

Case Management

• Contact Investigation Interviewing Skills Training
  This teaching video provides an overview of interviewing for TB contact investigation and includes excerpts of a TB interview, critique of interview, and checklist of essentials elements of a TB interview.
• Contact Investigation Toolkit (docx)
  A collection of forms, letters, decision trees, guidance documents and other CI materials used by public health agencies in Washington and other states.
• Interjurisdictional Transfers
  Forms and information to ensure continuity of care for TB patients who move from one state to another during the course of TB treatment. This system also facilitates the completion of contact tracing for contacts who move prior to TB exposure evaluation.
• Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI): A Quick Guide to Case Management (pdf)
  Guidance for providers who care for individuals who have or may be at risk of latent TB infection.
• Multidrug-Resistant/Extensively Drug-Resistant (MDR/XDR) TB Protocols for Washington State (pdf)
  Recommended protocols for treating patients with MDR/XDR TB.
• TB Case Management Tracker (TBCMT)
  The TBCMT tool was designed for TB nurse case managers and other public health staff in Washington. The tool outlines a set of expectations and activities and provides a structure for regular case management reviews. If you would like more information or access to the tool, please email tbservices@doh.wa.gov
• TB Services Manual - Under Revision
  A resource guide for public health professionals completing TB control activities in Washington.
• Washington State Tuberculosis Law Manual for Health Officers (pdf)
  Guidance for health officers on state laws aimed at protecting the public from the spread of TB in Washington.

Testing and Treatment

• Medications
  Medication discount program for local health jurisdictions to order the first 4-line TB medications for free and other TB medications at a reduced price.
• Electronic Directly Observed Therapy (eDOT) Toolkit
  A toolkit for implementing an eDOT program. Includes information on developing policies and procedures, technology options, and sample forms.
• Microbiology Laboratory Test Menu
  Includes specimen submission forms, specimen collection and shipping instructions, pre-approval requirements, testing methodologies and frequencies, turnaround times, and contact information for the Washington State Public Health Laboratory.
• TB Provider Toolkit
  Resources to use, or promote with private healthcare providers, related to TB screening, testing, treatment, and consultation activities.
• Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT) Program
  The DOH TB Program provides Washington health jurisdictions access to VDOT without cost. If you would like more information about the tools and resources, please email tbservices@doh.wa.gov.

Reporting

• Civil Surgeons LTBI Reporting Form (docx)
  Sample reporting form for Civil Surgeons to report latent TB infection (LTBI) cases to the county health department or district where the patient resides.
• TB Follow Up Worksheet Reference Guide (LHJ)( EDN)
  Guideline for local health jurisdictions in completion of the revised Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) Tuberculosis Follow-Up Worksheet (2019). Directions for completing these forms. Alerts users to common errors which may lead to delays or poor data quality.
• Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT) Form and Instructions
  Definitions for each item on the RVCT, self-study modules, and a copy of the RVCT form. RVCT data should be reported in the Washington Disease Reporting System (WDRS) database.
• WDRS TB Case Data Codebook (xlsx)
  Detailed specifications of TB county data exported from WDRS. This tool is intended for use by local-partner epidemiologists or other data analysts.
• Linking TB Contacts and Other TB Events in WDRS (YouTube)
  Provides instructions on how to link events in WDRS. Linking Contacts Graphic and Transcript (pdf)
• WDRS TB Manual 2020 (pdf)
  Guidance for all event types (disease, contact, and infection). Instructions on how to enter data on contacts tested during a TB contact investigation and patients diagnosed and treated for TB disease.
• Entering TB Disease Case Data in WDRS (YouTube) and Transcript (pdf)
• WDRS Resources and Training Materials
  General overview of the WDRS database including guidance on logging in, navigating the home page, searching for and creating events in WDRS, configuring the home page, assigning tasks, sharing and copying events, guidance for entering lab results into WDRS, and more.
• Accessing Tasks in WDRS (PDF)
  What is a task, accessing tasks, and performing tasks using workflows