Tuberculosis Test

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If you are an international student from a non-EU country, you are required by Dutch Immigration Law to have a tuberculosis (TB) test at a local GGD office (Dutch Health Service). Participating in TB testing is important for your health, but most importantly it is necessary for obtaining your (temporary) residence permit. Tuberculosis is a severe, but curable, disease and is found all over the world. It is much more common in the country where you are born than in the Netherlands, therefore you are tested for TB.

Do I need to take a Tuberculosis test?

In general, all students from non-EU countries must take a tuberculosis test. Students from Australia, Canada, Suriname, Switzerland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Monaco and the United States, however, do not have to do the tuberculosis test.

How will I be tested for Tuberculosis?

Screening for tuberculosis can be done in several ways. How you will be tested on tuberculosis depends on the length of your stay in the Netherlands:

Up to 6 months:

More than 6 months:

You will be tested on tuberculosis by a chest X-ray.

Please note:

Both men and women need to be bare-chested for the X-ray. This means you will have to remove all layers of clothing from your upper body.

You will be tested on tuberculosis by a skin test (Mantoux-test).

Please note:

For a skin test you will need 2 appointments:

·	First: for receiving the skin test (small injection in underarm)

·	Second: 3 to 5 days after the skin test: for examination of the test site on the skin

Why are there two kinds of tests?

When you intend to stay more than six months, you will be tested with a skin test. If a latent tuberculosis-infection is diagnosed, preventive treatment can be taken to minimize your chance of getting an active case of tuberculosis. When you stay up to 6 months, time is too short to complete a preventive treatment. Therefore, you will be screened on tuberculosis by a chest X-ray.

Procedure

·	Confirm that you need to take a tuberculosis test (see above).

·	Fill in a Tuberculosis Declaration Form. You will receive this form during the introduction day for international students. Alternatively, you can visit International Office to pick up a form.

·	International Office will make appointments at the GGD for international students starting in September. Students starting in February have to make the appointment themselves. Instructions and contact information will be provided during the introduction day for international students.

·	Hand in your Tuberculosis Declaration Form during the examination at the GGD.

·	After six months, the GGD will contact you directly at the address provided and invite you to a follow-up appointment.

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