Tuberculosis

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially life-threatening disease that has the ability to spread quickly in the close confines of classrooms and student residences on a university campus. Nearly one-third of the world’s population has the disease. Students from countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis (as designated by the World Health Organization) and other students who have had extended visits to those countries are at a greater risk for carrying the disease. Of those with the disease, most have the latent form. Even so, on a college campus it is important to take precautionary measures.

Yes, another TB test needs to be completed. International Students will have a TB Hold placed on their student account once they have received approval to travel out of the United States from the International Student Programs and Support Office. To have the TB hold removed, a negative test result needs to be provided to the TAMU-CC Health Center.

The following are options provided to meet the TAMU-CC TB requirement and have the TB hold removed from a student’s account.

Take the PPD test during the TB clinic being offered by the TAMU-CC Health Center. The cost ($12) of the TB test will be added to your student account. 
Take the IGRA blood test and get a negative result at the Nueces County Health Department for $15. Please note that results may take 3-5 days to receive. 
Take the test at pharmacies and physician’s offices at the student’s expense. 
Get an order from the TAMU-CC Health Center and take a chest X-ray at Radiology Associates. Costs are estimated at $17, which can be paid in cash, or an insurance card may be presented for a claim to be made.

Tuberculosis

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the TB test in my home country?

Can you remove the TB hold temporarily until I register for classes?

Where can I send my TB test (or chest x-ray) results?

How do I schedule an appointment for a TB test?

I had a TB test done when I first came to the United States, do I need to do one again?

If I travel out of the United States, do I need to do another TB test when I return to campus?

I won’t be in the United States until the week classes begin. Is there any other way I can register for classes before then and have the TB test done as soon as I arrive?

What type of TB test do I need to request to meet the TAMU-CC requirement? Blood? Skin?

I was vaccinated for tuberculosis as a child. Am I still required to take a TB test?

I was never exposed to tuberculosis. Am I still required to take a TB test?

I had a TB test done as an undergraduate at TAMU-CC and have now been accepted to graduate school at TAMU-CC. Do I have to have another TB test as a graduate student?

When an international student applies for graduate school at TAMU-CC, upon admission, the student will have a TB hold automatically placed on their account.

University Health Center