ALCOAST 231/25 - MAY 2025 CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER (CDC) AND FAMILY CHILD CARE (FCC) EMPLOYEES - UPDATE TO TUBERCULOSIS TESTING GUIDELINES

R 211340Z MAY 25   MID120001960117U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 231/25
SSIC 6230
SUBJ: CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER (CDC) AND FAMILY CHILD CARE (FCC)
EMPLOYEES - UPDATE TO TUBERCULOSIS TESTING GUIDELINES
A. Coast Guard Occupational Medicine Manual, COMDTINST 6260.32
B. Child Development Services Manual, COMDTINST 1754.15
1. This ALCOAST provides an update to REF (A) with respect to the
frequency of tuberculosis (TB) screening for Coast Guard
Child Development Center (CDC) employees, Family Child Care (FCC)
providers, and medical staff providing these services during
periodic exams.
2. For CDC Employees: This ALCOAST directs compliance for mandatory
TB screening during periodic medical exams performed every 2 years
for CDC employees, page 3-2 and Enclosure 18 of REF (A). Mandatory
Initial TB testing remains unchanged. Compliance will begin on the
next cycle of periodic exams.
3. For FCC Providers: This ALCOAST directs compliance for mandatory
TB screening during periodic medical exams performed every 3 years
for FCC providers, page 3-2 and Enclosure 18 of REF (A). Mandatory
Initial TB testing remains unchanged. Compliance will begin on the
next cycle of periodic exams.
4. For Medical Providers: Mandatory Initial TB testing remains
unchanged and must be completed on all new CDC employees and FCC
providers using two-stage Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) or an
interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test. CDC employees
shall then be screened every 2 years and FCC providers every 3 years
for signs of TB infection (such as persistent cough, coughing up
blood or phlegm, fever, weakness, night sweats, chills, weight loss
and loss of appetite) or new exposure history. Such exposure history
would include close contact with someone who has had TB,
immunosuppression (such as infection with HIV, organ transplant, or
treatment with certain medications such as steroids), or temporary
or permanent residence greater than or equal to 1 month in a country
with high TB rate (any other country besides the U.S., Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, and Northern/ Western Europe) during the
mandatory periodic medical exams to determine whether further TB
testing is indicated. This change provides clarity on when to
initiate additional TB screening and testing for CDC employees and
FCC providers during periodic exams. There is no requirement to have
the employee come back for TB screening if they have already had
their periodic exam; compliance will begin on the next cycle of
periodic exams.
5. POCs:
    a. CDR Dara Lee, Chief, Occupational Medicine COMDT (CG-1K21),
917-513-1159 or Dara.Lee@uscg.mil.
    b. Renee L Podolec, Child Development Service Program
Manager (CG-1K12) 202-475-5160 or Renee.L.Podolec@uscg.mil.
6. This message is cancelled 20 MAY 2026.
7. RADM Paul I. Jung, Assistant Commandant for Health, Safety,
and Work-Life (CG-1K), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.