Tuberculosis (TB) Prevention and Control Program

What We Do

The Bergen County TB Control Program is a state funded initiative that emerged more than 30 years ago with the purpose of eradicating Tuberculosis. The main goal of the Bergen County TB program is to prevent TB from spreading, reduce tuberculosis disease, and ultimately eliminate TB. In order to accomplish this goal, trained TB specialist work diligently to identify, diagnose and treat tuberculosis disease.

The Bergen County TB Control Program works with three top-rated NJ physicians, including infectious disease and pulmonology specialists with expertise in TB. We’re also proud to have a pediatric infectious disease specialist in our program. Our services include transportation, TB testing such as the T-Spot test, and TB skin tests.

TB Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of TB disease depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs (pulmonary TB). TB disease in the lungs may cause symptoms such as, a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in the chest coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs). Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected. Learn more about TB signs and symptoms from the CDC Other symptoms of TB disease are:

Program Criteria

Your physician will refer you to if you meet one of the following criteria for Tuberculosis care:

Suspected or confirmed TB cases who have active disease, regardless of the site of disease Have had an abnormal x-ray consistent with TB and has being referred to the DOH by a physician.
Contacts to cases of clinically active tuberculosis
Exposed to someone with active TB Disease
Immigrants or refugees with abnormal chest x-rays
Have recently enter the United States from a TB endemic country (most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia), regardless of your legal status.).
Have had an abnormal x-ray consistent with TB and has being referred to the DOH by a physician.
Students(Kindergarden to 12th grade with positive results on tuberculosis skin test or blood test AND tested under the NJ school mandated guidelines.

PLEASE NO WALK-INS OR PATIENT REFFERALS:

Routine TB testing and follow up exams are NOT available through the BCDHS for employment, college, technical or vocational school purposes. For on-demand PPD or tuberculin skin test, contact local urgent care, no prescription needed. Please use the following resources for routine testing: