Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Cynthia B. Morrow, MD, MPH, announced today that due to an ongoing national shortage of Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) Solution which is used to test for tuberculosis, the Onondaga County Health Department’s Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program will be prioritizing individuals in need of PPD testing using the Centers for Disease Control’s criteria and guidelines. Highest priority persons for testing include:

1. Persons who are contacts to infectious TB cases,
2. Persons being evaluated for suspected active TB,
3. Persons at increased risk for TB due to medical conditions,
4. Persons recently arrived from countries with high numbers of active TB cases.

We will continue to test individuals who meet the above criteria at the Civic Center location, Room 80. PPD testing is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:30 am – 11:30 am.  Individuals who require annual employee/student testing, initial testing of new employees/students or daycare testing are recommended to contact their current primary care provider for testing or their referring agency for more guidance until the shortage has resolved.

If you have any questions, please contact the TB Control Program at (315) 435-3236.