ARM 37.114.1002. TUBERCULOSIS: COMMUNICABLE STATE

(1) A person has communicable tuberculosis if one of the following conditions exists: (a) laboratory examination of sputa, gastric washings, bronchial washings, or pulmonary tissue culture shows, in at least one sputum specimen, the presence of either acid-fast bacilli or Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). (b) a chest x-ray shows changes characteristic of tuberculosis; or (c) in the case of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, drainage from the extrapulmonary site is not being disposed of in accordance with infection control precautions. (2) A person diagnosed as having communicable tuberculosis will continue to be regarded as having communicable tuberculosis until: (a) a culture of the specimen which was positive for M. tuberculosis or acid-fast bacilli on a smear shows, in a manner acceptable to the department, either no bacterial growth or an organism other than M. tuberculosis, if the diagnosis was based on laboratory analysis of a sputum specimen; (b) a tuberculin skin test is negative (induration is less than five mm or absent altogether) and sputa or gastric specimens taken on three consecutive days are found negative for acid-fast bacilli, if the diagnosis was based on chest x-ray results; (c) anti-tuberculosis drugs are being administered and tests of sputa or respiratory secretion specimens taken on three consecutive days are negative for acid-fast bacilli; or (d) in the case of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, drainage from the extrapulmonary site is disposed of according to infection control precautions.