Tuberculosis infection in urban adolescents: results of a school-based testing program

In 1986-87 a pilot tuberculosis (TB) skin testing program was introduced for seventh and tenth grade students in the Boston (Massachusetts) public schools. The 8.9 percent tuberculin positivity rate in tenth grade students was significantly higher than the 5.1 percent rate found in seventh graders. A majority of those who were skin test positive were born outside the United States. These results suggest that tuberculin testing in an urban school setting may identify a significant number of candidates for TB preventive therapy, particularly among tenth grade students and those who are foreign-born.