Appendix 5: Indicative timescales for contact tracing process in HPTs
Published 6 October 2026
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By week 1
Notification of a case of TB
Record the case on CIMS.
Receive copy of the incident form from TB team and check complete.
If incident is outside of HPT area – refer to relevant HPT.
By week 2
Follow up
Check culture results, PCR results, sensitivities, contact screening outcomes and any other outstanding information. Review if public health action is needed prior to culture-results availability, for example positive TB PCR result or high index of clinical suspicion of TB.
Add additional information to the CIMS record.
If the setting such as the workplace/school where the index case was identified is already aware and there are concerns, the risk assessment can be started before PCR or culture results. It will be important to confirm with the setting that no screening will be carried out before culture or PCR results confirming TB.
If the setting is in a nursery where contacts may be aged less than 2 years or another setting with vulnerable contacts, an urgent risk assessment should be undertaken when there is a positive PCR result for TB. This can take place before the culture result, antibiotic sensitivities and household/close contact screening outcome are known.
By weeks 6 to 8
Complete risk assessment
When culture results and initial close/household contact screening outcomes are known, review and complete risk assessment relating to the need to expand contact tracing.
Arrange a site visit as needed and IMT meeting if necessary.
Agree further follow up or plan screening.
Dependent upon risk assessment
Communications
Ensure a plan for screening people who have been exposed to the index case has been developed and agreed.
Check the incident setting has provided the list of contacts to the TB service. Prepare letters, factsheets, consent forms and any other materials for screening (to be sent approximately one week prior to screening).
Inform relevant stakeholders, for example the Director of Public Health (DPH).
Week 8
Screening
Screening should be carried out from 8 weeks since the last exposure at the incident setting. Check uptake with the TB service.
Weeks 12 to 16
Results
The results of the screening should be collated and recorded as a summary of results on CIMS.
Review the results to decide if further screening is necessary.
Report outcomes to relevant stakeholders (for example the incident setting, DPH).