New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services
Tuberculosis Program
Policy and Procedure for the Pediatric Tuberculosis Suspect, Case,
Contact, and B1/B2 Immigration Status
Policy
To provide specialized pediatric medical evaluation, clinical care and treatment for all
children, 18 years of age or under, with suspected or confirmed M. tuberculosis (TB)
disease, at any site, or latent TB infection. This also includes any child identified as a
contact to an infectious, or potentially infectious case of active, pulmonary TB, or a new
immigrant with Class B1 or B2 status.
Procedure
1. The Regional TB Specialty Pediatric Clinics are available for any child suspected or
diagnosed with TB disease, identified as a contact to a case of pulmonary TB, or Class
B1 or B2 immigrants. The services provided may vary depending upon the
particular situation of the child, source case, nurse case manager, county chest clinic
physician or private MD.
2. The county nurse case manager shall inform the New Jersey Department of Health &
Senior Services, Nurse Consultant, when any child 18 years of age or under is
suspected or diagnosed with TB disease at any site. The nurse consultant will
determine with the nurse case manager, the recommendations for follow-up.
3. The New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services Nurse Consultants are
available to discuss any child who is a contact to an infectious case of pulmonary TB,
or those children who are recent immigrants to the U.S. with B2 status.
4. Medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and consultation is available at
three Regional TB Specialty Clinic for children with suspected or diagnosed active
TB disease, at any site. These are clinics are:
 Waymon C. Lattimore Practice, 225 Warren St., Newark, N.J., 07101
 Hudson County Chest Clinic, 257 Corneilison Avenue, Jersey City, N.J 07302
 Southern N.J. Regional Specialty Clinic, Bellmawr Complex, 35 East
Browning Rd., Bellmawr, N.J. 08030
5. The medical evaluation may be a one-time consultation visit at the regional specialty
clinic, with continued follow-up by the physician where the child resides. However,
the child may be followed from initiation to completion of treatment at the Regional
TB Specialty Clinics. The decision for continued care is determined by the nurse case
manager, county chest clinic physician, pediatric pulmonologist, nurse consultant,
and circumstances of the case.
6. In some situations, a review of the child’s chest radiograph by a pediatric radiologist
may be indicated prior to determining the next action. The New Jersey Department
of Health & Senior Services, Nurse Consultant, will facilitate this review and results.
7. The Regional TB Specialty Clinic pediatric pulmonologist and pediatric infectious
disease physician are available to private MD’s treating children with TB and LTBI.
The county nurse case manager may facilitate this communication between
physicians or request assistance from the state nurse consultants.
8. To achieve successful outcomes when referring children to the Regional Specialty
Pediatric TB Clinic, it is expected that the county nurse case manager and regional
specialty clinic nurse case managers follow the responsibilities as outlined in the
New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services, Referral to Regional Specialty
Chest Clinic Policy and Procedure. The Referral Form should be completed and
faxed to the nurse case manager at the regional specialty clinic, with a copy to the
New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services Nurse Consultant.
9. A parent or guardian must accompany the child to the regional specialty clinic for
the first visit, and subsequently thereafter, if available. The parent or guardian may
give written consent for another adult to accompany the child in his/her absence. In
this case, the parent or guardian must be available by telephone to talk with the
specialty clinic pediatrician during the visit.
10. Transportation is available for any child and parent or guardian from his/her
residence to the regional specialty clinic. The New Jersey Department of Health &
Senior Services Transportation Services Policy should be followed with the Request
for Transportation form completed at least 24 hours prior to the need for
transportation.
12/2011