On May 2, 2023, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published a final recommendation statement on screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The Task Force continued to recommend that adults at increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) be screened for LTBI.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection spread through the air from one person to another that usually affects the lungs. It is a significant public health concern in the United States. People can be infected with TB bacteria butnot have any signs or symptoms or be contagious; this is known as LTBI. If left untreated, people with LTBI can eventually progress to having active TB, which can cause serious health problems and spread to others.

There are two types of screening tests for LTBI in the United States: the tuberculin skin test and the interferon-gamma release assay, which is a blood test. Both tests have been shown to be safe and effective. It is important that people who screen positive go on to receive appropriate follow-up and treatment.

In the United States, the majority of active TB cases occur in people born outside of the country. In 2020, Mexico, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, and China were the most common countries of birth among people living in the United States with new cases of TB. Most new TB cases are thought to be due to the progression of LTBI to active TB rather than the transmission of active TB. Therefore, screening for and treating LTBI are critical to reducing the burden of TB.

The Task Force’s final recommendation statement and corresponding evidence summary were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.