The California Department of Health has issued a new All Facilities Letter regarding the use of Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood tests for identifying Mycobacterium Tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers. The letter states that the use of IGRA blood tests requires a grant of program flexibility from the California Department of Public Health's Licensing and Certification Program, as the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) is required by regulation. Facilities must submit a letter to the Licensing and Certification district office requesting program flexibility for the use of IGRA blood tests. They must also submit a policy specifying the IGRA blood test to be used in screening healthcare workers for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI), complying with current standards of practice for LTBI screening as defined by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The policy must specify the group of employees in which the IGRA will be used and include a statement that employees will be informed in writing of the limitations of using IGRAs as defined by the most current recommendations by the CDC or the California Tuberculosis Controllers Association.

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