Volume 28, Number 9—September 2022
Research
Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Children Migrating to Australia
Table 1
Australian premigration TB screening criteria within the Immigration Medical Examination*
All children completing an IME have a medical history and physical examination |
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Either IGRA or TST is required for: |
Children 2–10 years of age who are: |
Applying for a humanitarian visa |
Applying for a permanent visa and from a setting placing them at higher risk for TB† |
Asylum seekers within Australia |
Applicants declaring close contact with TB, with signs or symptoms of TB, or who are immunocompromised (any age or migration stream) |
Applicants with positive IGRA or TST results are required to have: |
Posteroanterior chest radiograph (and lateral in children <11 years of age) |
If abnormalities on chest radiograph, or other indication for further investigation: |
Sputum testing and specialist review |
Exemptions from IGRA and TST screening: |
Written evidence of prior bacteriologically confirmed TB (i.e., positive smear or culture from sputum or other specimen) or a previously positive TST (>10 mm) or IGRA |
*Chest radiograph screening for TB is required for all migrants >11 years applying for permanent or humanitarian visas and for temporary visas if from high-risk TB countries and staying for >6 months. TB, tuberculosis disease; IME, Immigration Medical Examination; IGRA, interferon-gamma release assay; TST, tuberculin skin test. †Prevalence >40 per 100,000 cases of TB based on 2013 World Health Organization estimates.