High-Risk Population

COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on current information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include:

  • People aged 65 years and older.
  • People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
  • Other high-risk conditions could include:
    • People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma.
    • People who have serious heart conditions.
    • People who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment.
    • People of any age with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] >40) or certain underlying medical conditions, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease might also be at risk.
  • People who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with severe viral illness, however, to date data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk.

Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.

 

Precautions for Persons with Underlying Health Conditions

Anyone with a chronic medical condition or who is immunocompromised and is receiving home-health care should:

  • Avoid close contact to anyone that is sick and do not allow anyone to enter your home that is showing symptoms of respiratory infection such as cough, fever, shortness of breath and sore throat.
  • Do not allow persons who have traveled internationally or on a cruise ship in the past 14 days to enter your home, whether they have gotten tested or not.

On September 1, 2020, Florida issued Emergency Order 20-009 which lifts restrictions for visitation to nursing homes, assisted living facilities (ALFs), adult family-care homes, adult group homes and other long-term care facilities. Emergency Order 20-009 also requires all visitors to wear PPE pursuant to the most recent CDC guidelines, and those not making physical contact still must wear a mask.

See more information about people at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19.

 

Related Outreach Materials

Infographic: Protection, Planning & Care for Older Adults

 

Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Point-of-Care Testing

Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Point-of-Care Testing

Updated Feb. 5, 2021
Summary of Recent Changes

Revisions were made on January 28, 2021 to reflect the following:

  • Edited to add language about antibody testing.

Revisions were made on December 30, 2020 to reflect the following:

  • Edited “Specimen Collection and Handling Point-of-Care Tests” section to add language which clarifies the personal protective equipment (PPE) recommended for personnel collecting point-of-care (POC) specimens versus the PPE recommended for personnel handling POC specimens but not directly involved in collection and not working within 6 feet of patients.

Revisions were made on December 26, 2020 to reflect the following:

  • To whom staff at long-term care facilities (LCTFs) should report point-of-care antigen testing data under “Reporting Requirements for Point-of-Care Testing”.

Revisions were made on December 10, 2020 to reflect the following:

  • New “Help with Performing Point-of-Care Tests” section added, which includes training resources for performing POC tests.

Revisions were made on December 2, 2020 to reflect the following:

  • Modified page to include Frequently Asked Questions about Point-of-Care Testing

Point-of-care tests, such as some rapid tests for diagnosing an infectious disease, provide results within minutes of the test being administered, allowing for rapid decisions about patient care. POC tests can also extend testing to people residing in communities who cannot readily access care. POC tests are used to diagnose current or detect past SARS-CoV-2 infections in various settings, such as:

  • Physician offices
  • Urgent care facilities
  • Pharmacies
  • School health clinics
  • Long-term care facilities and nursing homes
  • Temporary locations, such as drive-through sites managed by local organizations

Summary: This CDC Web resource provides guidance on the regulatory requirements for SARS-CoV-2 POC testing, using POC tests safely, and information on reporting POC test results.

Regulatory Requirements for POC Testing

Who can do POC testing?

Sites that perform POC testing are required to have a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certificate (see this brochurepdf iconexternal icon). There are four different types of CLIA certificates, any one of which is appropriate for POC testing. See this Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) documentpdf iconexternal icon that describes the different types of CLIA certificates. A CLIA Certificate of Waiver is appropriate for POC testing and can be obtained as follows:

  1. Complete an application (Form CMS-116pdf iconexternal icon), available on the CMS CLIA websiteexternal icon or from a local State Agency.
  2. Send the completed application to the address of the local State Agencyexternal icon for the state where testing will be performed.
  3. Pay the CLIA Certificate of Waiver fee, following instructions provided by the State Agency.

See How to Obtain a CLIA Certificate of Waiverpdf iconexternal icon for more information. POC testing can be performed after the laboratory or testing site has received a CLIA certificate number.

The laboratory or testing site must keep its certificate information current. The State Agency should be notified of any changes to the laboratory or testing site ownership, name, address, or director within 30 days.

What tests can be used for POC?

See the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website for a list of the SARS-CoV-2 POC tests that have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)external icon. Tests that have been authorized for use in a POC setting will have a W, for Waived, in the Authorized Settings column of the FDA table. The laboratory or testing site must use a test authorized for POC use by FDA and must follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each POC test. The instructions for use provide specific information on how to perform the test, which specimens can be used, and the people who may be tested. All of the FDA-authorized tests for current SARS-CoV-2 infection are for use on symptomatic people. However, CMS has indicatedpdf iconexternal iconthat CLIA will temporarily allow CLIA laboratories and other CLIA testing sites to use SARS-CoV-2 POC antigen tests on asymptomatic people for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

For more information and additional resources for POC testing, see CDC’s Waived Tests Web page.

Radon Month

Have You Tested Your Home for Radon?

You may already know that smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer in the United States. But do you know what’s number two?

The answer is radon, an invisible, radioactive gas—and if you didn’t know, you’re not alone.

“Radon is a serious public health problem, and a lot of people don’t know about it,” says Robert Whitcomb, PhD, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He says it’s estimated to cause over 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S, and that 1 out of 15 homes have dangerously high radon levels.

But many of the people living in those homes don’t have any idea, Whitcomb says. That’s not surprising, because unlike tobacco smoke, radon isn’t something you can see. You can’t smell or taste it either.

“Testing your home for radon gas is the only way to know if it’s a risk,” says Whitcomb. “The good news is that it’s very easy to do.”

 

Invisible Invader

Radon gas forms naturally in the ground. Most radon mixes harmlessly with outdoor air, and we all breathe in low levels every day, Whitcomb says.

The problem is when radon from underground seeps into a home through cracks and gaps in the foundation and gets trapped inside. Breathing indoor air with high radon levels can—over time—damage lungs and lead to cancer.

Meghan Porter, of Elma, Washington, decided to test her home almost by chance. She learned about radon at her new job—with the Washington Tracking Network (WTN)—and decided to pick up a testing kit.

“Until then, I’d never even heard of radon,” she says.

She was surprised by the results. Radon levels were dangerously high in her basement—specifically in her 9-year-old daughter’s bedroom.

“If I didn’t have that job, it never would have crossed my mind to test,” she says. “I had no idea that radon was something that could be in my home.”

 

Why You Should Test Your Home

In Florida, 1 in 5 homes tested has elevated radon levels. Radon can really be a problem anywhere, Whitcomb says. It can be a risk in small homes and big homes, old homes and new homes.

“You can even have two almost identical houses right next to one another,” says Whitcomb. “One will have low radon levels while the other is very high. That’s why everyone needs to test.”

 

January is National Radon Action Month and a Good Time to Take Action

Testing your home is the only way to find out if you have a radon problem. You can buy a testing kit online or at your local hardware store for just $10 to $20. You can also request a free kit—available while supplies last—from the Florida Radon Program.

This FloridaHealth.gov feature story is provided by the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Communications. It can be reused without permission.

Sources: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Fixing Radon Problems

“If you find out that you have high radon levels, it can be scary,” says Whitcomb. “But addressing the issue is often simpler than homeowners expect.”

The key is to work with an expert who can help guide you, Whitcomb says. You can call your state’s radon office to get the name of someone who can offer advice.

Some radon issues need the help of a mitigation contractor — a specialist in fixing radon problems. They may use approaches like sub-slab depressurization: installing a pipe that sucks radon from the ground under the house and sends it into the outside air, where it’s harmless.

“High radon levels are a clear threat to your health,” Whitcomb says, “but the solutions are clear too. If you test your home and find out you have a problem, you can fix it.”

Porter says she feels lucky to have found out about the radon in her home, and she now urges neighbors, family, and friends to test their homes too.

“I tell people that nobody knows what’s under their house, so they don’t know if they have radon unless they test,” she says. “It’s cheap too — so why not do it?”

Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

Updated Dec. 21, 2020

We understand that some people may be concerned about getting vaccinated now that COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States. While more COVID-19 vaccines are being developed as quickly as possible, routine processes and procedures remain in place to ensure the safety of any vaccine that is authorized or approved for use. Safety is a top priority, and there are many reasons to get vaccinated.

Below is a summary of the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination based on what we currently know. CDC will continue to update this page as more data become available.

COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19

  • All COVID-19 vaccines that are in development  or being distributed are being carefully evaluated in clinical trials and will be authorized or approved only if they make it substantially less likely you’ll get COVID-19.
  • Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
  • Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
  • Experts continue to conduct more studies about the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on severity of illness from COVID-19, as well as its ability to keep people from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection

  • COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you.
  • Clinical trials of all vaccines must first show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be authorized or approved for use, including COVID-19 vaccines. The known and potential benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine must outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine for use under what is known as an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Watch a video on what an EUA is.
  • Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. But experts don’t know how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.
  • Both natural immunity and immunity produced by a vaccine are important parts of COVID-19 disease that experts are trying to learn more about, and CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.

COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic

  • Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed.
  • The combination of getting vaccinated and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.
  • Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools we have available. As experts learn more about how COVID-19 vaccination may help reduce spread of the disease in communities, CDC will continue to update the recommendations to protect communities using the latest science.

Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Shines In Clinical Tria

Clinical data for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine showed it was nearly 95% effective in preventing disease, according to an interim analysis described in a company release Monday.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

A second COVID-19 vaccine now also appears highly effective in preventing illness following exposure to the virus that causes the disease.

The biotech company Moderna Inc. said Monday that its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing disease, according to an analysis of its clinical trial.

The news comes a week after Pfizer and BioNTech said their vaccine was more than 90% effective.

The results for both vaccines come from interim analyses of large clinical studies. In the Moderna study there were 30,000 volunteers. Half got two doses of the vaccine 28 days apart; half got two shots of a placebo on the same schedule.

There were 95 instances of COVID-19 illness among the study participants; only five of those cases were in the vaccinated group. Ninety were in the group receiving the placebo. Of these, there were 11 cases of severe disease. The results indicate the vaccine was inducing the kind of immune response that protects people if they were exposed to the coronavirus.

“This positive interim analysis from our Phase 3 study has given us the first clinical validation that our vaccine can prevent COVID-19 disease, including severe disease,” Stéphane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said in a statement.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use the same technology to make their vaccines. It’s based on a molecule known as mRNA, or messenger RNA. That molecule contains genetic instructions for making proteins inside cells.

For the vaccine, researchers created an mRNA with the code for making the coronavirus spike protein. The protein is the key to the virus infecting cells. It’s also what can trigger someone’s immune system to make antibodies against the virus, but without causing infection since the rest of the virus is missing.

That two mRNA vaccines appear to be working is remarkable, since the technology is new and there hasn’t been an mRNA vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration made to date.

The Moderna and Pfizer studies were conducted using slightly different protocols. To be counted as a COVID-19 case, participants in the Moderna study had to have at least two symptoms of disease in addition to a positive test for the virus. The Pfizer study required only one symptom. Also, Moderna waited 14 days following the second injection to begin counting cases; Pfizer’s study started counting at seven days.

The vaccines also differ in their storage requirements. Moderna says its vaccine can be safely stored in freezers at about 25 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 4 degrees Celsius), a temperature easily reached by a home refrigerator freezer. Pfizer’s vaccine required storage in specialized ultracold freezers capable of cooling below minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 degrees Celsius). Moderna also says its vaccine will remain potent for up to 30 days at normal refrigerated temperatures, which should ease distribution.

Both companies’ vaccine studies managed to recruit a reasonably diverse group of people. Moderna reports 6,000 enrollees who identified as Hispanic or Latinx and more than 3,000 participants who identified as Black or African American, as well as 7,000 people older than 65, and 5,000 with high-risk chronic diseases.

Pfizer and Moderna are still gathering safety data the Food and Drug Administration has said is necessary for consideration of an emergency use authorization that would allow the companies to distribute the vaccine during the pandemic.

Side effects seen for the Moderna vaccine at the interim analysis included pain at the injection site, fatigue and aching muscles and joints. The data safety and monitoring board didn’t identify “any significant safety concerns.”

Moderna said it intends to file “in the coming weeks” with the FDA for authorization of the company’s vaccine for emergency use.

The federal Operation Warp Speed project to hasten development of COVID-19 vaccines awarded Moderna a $1.5 billion contract in August to ramp up manufacturing and deliver 100 million vaccine doses, enough for 50 million people. The government has an option to buy up to 400 million more doses.

Moderna said Monday that it expects to be able to ship about 20 million vaccine doses in the U.S. by the end of 2020. Next year, the company said it expects to be able to make 500 million to 1 billion doses worldwide.

The research and development of the Moderna vaccine was aided by $955 million in federal funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Moderna has also been developing this vaccine alongside the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which in July told NPR it expects to spend about $410 million on the effort.

Dr. Fauci Says You Don’t Have to Do This Anymore to Avoid COVID

Dr. Fauci Says You Don’t Have to Do This Anymore to Avoid COVID

Leah Groth

·3 mins read

Over the last several months since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, guidance on how to prevent the highly infectious virus has continued to change as research has evolved. However, there is still some confusion as to what the most important prevention measures are in keeping the deadly virus at bay. In a new interview with Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit on Monday morning, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert and key member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, revealed where you should be focusing your energy. Read on for more, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had Coronavirus.

What Did Dr. Fauci Say You Can Stop Doing?

“We know that this virus overwhelmingly predominantly is transmitted by the respiratory route by either droplets that are large enough, essentially to travel, to get to someone’s nose, eyes, mouth, or aerosol a little bit. We don’t know exactly what the extent of the aerosol is. We know it does play a role exactly how much is still being worked out,” Fauci began.

While person-to-person is the primary way the virus spreads, he doesn’t negate the potential to get infected via touch.

“We also know that the virus can live on inanimate objects,” he continued, explaining that according to the transmissibility and the epidemiology, “that is very likely a very, very minor, minor aspect” of transmissibility. “We can’t say it’s zero. It certainly is real and is finite, but it’s minor.”

Therefore, when it comes to preventative measures, he doesn’t emphasize wiping down items. “I think we should spend less time worrying about wiping down a grocery bag than we should about just washing our hands frequently,” he said.

RELATED: This is the #1 Way You’ll Get COVID, According to Doctors

Dr. Fauci Has His Own Ritual With Plastic Bags

When it comes to his own life, he reveals his own ritual. “So you asked me what I do when I come from the grocery store or when someone gives me a take-out bag, which I do a lot now, because I don’t go into restaurants and sit down. I want to keep them going financially. So I do a lot of takeout. So I do have a bag that I bring into my house,” he said. “Instead of worrying about the bag, I’ll open the bag and then I’ll just wash my hands thoroughly, which is what you should do.”

In general, he suggests not worrying as much about touching things, but focusing on hand hygiene instead. “I think doing that natural public health measure and not worrying about touching things that might or might not have anything to do with transmissibility, just focus on washing your hands,” he advises. So wash your hands, wear your face mask, and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Background Check Update

 See our Background Check Procedures policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

 Federal law requires federally licensed firearms dealers (but not private sellers) to initiate a background check on the purchaser prior to sale of a firearm. Federal law provides states with the option of serving as a state “point of contact” and conducting their own background checks using state, as well as federal, records and databases, or having the checks performed by the FBI using only the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”) database. (Note that state files are not always included in the federal database.)

Florida is a point of contact state for the NICS. As a result, firearms dealers in Florida must initiate the background check required by federal law by contacting the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).1 More specifically, Florida law prohibits a licensed dealer from selling or delivering a firearm from his or her inventory at his or her licensed premises to anyone except a licensed dealer, importer, or manufacturer, without:

  • Obtaining a completed form from the buyer or transferee, and inspecting proper photographic identification;
  • Calling the FDLE and requesting a check of “the information as reported and reflected in the Florida Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center systems as of the date of the request;” and
  • Receiving a unique approval number from FDLE and recording that number and the date on the form.2

Upon receiving a request for a background check, the FDLE is required to review any available records to determine if the buyer or transferee is prohibited from purchasing a firearm because he or she has been:

  • Convicted of a felony;
  • Convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; or
  • “Adjudicated mentally defective” or “committed to a mental institution” by a court.3

Florida law provides definitions of the terms “adjudicated mentally defective” and “committed to a mental institution.” Most individuals in these categories are prohibited by federal law from possessing or purchasing firearms.4 Persons involuntarily committed for outpatient treatment are included within the definition of “committed to a mental institution.”5

In 2018, Florida enacted an extreme risk protection order law that authorizes law enforcement agencies to petition a court for a civil order preventing a dangerous person from accessing firearms for up to one year.6 Within 24 hours after a risk protection order is issued, the clerk of the issuing court must forward the order to law enforcement for entry into the Florida Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center so that the order can be enforced when background checks are performed.7

In 2013, Florida enacted a law that includes a person taken into custody involuntarily for a mental health evaluation and subsequently voluntarily admitted to a mental institution for outpatient or inpatient treatment in the definition of “committed to a mental institution” if: (1) an examining physician has determined that the person poses an imminent danger to himself, herself, or others and has certified that he or she would have filed a petition for involuntary commitment if the person had not agreed to voluntary treatment; (2) the person has been given notice and an opportunity to contest this certification; and (3) a court has reviewed this certification and ordered the person’s record to be submitted.8

For information about the restoration of firearm eligibility for persons previously adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution, please see the Florida Mental Health Reporting section.

In addition, the FDLE must review available records to determine if the buyer or transferee has had adjudication of guilt withheld or imposition of sentence suspended on any felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence unless three years have elapsed since probation or any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled or expunction has occurred.9 If any of these disqualifying conditions exist, the FDLE must inform the dealer that the buyer or transferee is prohibited from purchasing a firearm and must provide the licensee a nonapproval number.10

The FDLE must also review available records and issue a conditional nonapproval number if the buyer or transferee:

  • Has been indicted or has had an information filed against her or him for a felony;
  • Is subject to a domestic violence protective order, or an injunction against repeat violence; or
  • Has been arrested for one of 22 enumerated “dangerous crime[s]” or for criminal anarchy, extortion, certain explosives violations, certain controlled substances violations, resisting an officer with violence, certain weapons and firearms violations, treason, assisting self-murder, sabotage, stalking or aggravated stalking.11

The FDLE then has 24 “working hours” (3 business days) in which to determine the disposition of the indictment, information, or arrest and inform the dealer as to whether the potential buyer is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm.12 Florida law requires the clerk of court to respond to an FDLE request for data on the disposition of the indictment, information, or arrest as soon as possible, but in no event later than 8 working hours.13 FDLE must continue its attempts to obtain the disposition information and may retain a record of all approval numbers granted without sufficient disposition information.14 If FDLE later obtains disposition information indicating that the person is prohibited from possessing a firearm, FDLE must revoke the conditional approval number and notify law enforcement.15 During the time that disposition of the indictment, information, or arrest is pending, the conditional nonapproval number remains in effect.16

Neither federal nor Florida law requires private sellers (sellers who are not licensed dealers) to initiate a background check when transferring a firearm.

 See our Private Sales  policy summary for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

In addition, Florida specifically exempts concealed weapons license holders from the state’s background check requirement.17 However, Florida concealed weapons license holders are not exempt from the federal background check requirement.18

Public School Calendars for Florida

As a parent, the question we ask toward the end of summer is, “when do you go back to school?” So here is a simple listing of the biggest dates for each school district to help you out. This Florida School Calendar shows the major days off of school and does not include teacher workdays or minor holidays.

We actively work to update this list. Please remember that due to un-expected circumstances such as hurricanes and possible changes in the pandemic closures, dates are subject to change.  2020-2021 school calendar dates are added below based on the calendar from the individual school districts. This date is subject to change so please be in direct contact with your school or school district for the latest updates and to verify dates.

COVID-19 update

Florida Schools were ordered to reopen in the fall by an executive order issued in early July. In order to reopen, schools must submit their plan detailing precautions amid the pandemic.

Most districts are offering options giving parents the choice to continue virtual learning or to attend school following safety guidelines. Parents have options so visit your school district or school website and be sure to make a selection.

Many districts have delayed the start date till the end of August. A few, particularly in South Florida, are starting on time completely virtual for the first few weeks.

Note: the schools are doing their best to navigate coronavirus. Please understand this is something no one has ever had to work with so it is new for everyone and it can change from day to day. Let’s stay united and show patience and understanding toward each other.

2020-2021 Florida School District Calendar Dates

click on county link for district calendar 2020 School Start + COVID info Fall Break Winter Break Spring Break 2021
School Ends
Alachua

 

Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 28
Baker Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 26
Bay Aug 11
Aug 20COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 26
Bradford Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 24
Brevard Aug 11
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 27
June 3
Broward Aug 19
Virtual StartCOVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 3 Mar 22-26 Jun 9
Calhoun Aug 12

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 22-26 May 27
Charlotte Aug 10
Aug 31COVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 27
Citrus Aug 10
Aug 20COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 18 – Jan 6 Mar 29- Apr 2 May 28
Clay Aug 11

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 28
Collier Aug 12
Aug 31COVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 Jun 2
Jun 11
Columbia Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 26
Desoto Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 18 – Jan 3 Mar 12-19 May 27
Dixie Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 6 Mar 15-19 May 28
Duval Aug 10
Aug 20COVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 18 – Jan 4 Mar 8-12 May 28
Escambia Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 3 Mar 15-19 May 21
Flagler Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 27
Franklin Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 25-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 27
Gadsden Aug 11

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 27
Gilchrist Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 6 Mar 15-19 May 21
Glades Aug 12

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 6 Mar 15-19 May 28
Gulf Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 25
Hamilton Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Apr 2-9 May 31
Hardee Aug 12

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 13-21 May 27
Hendry Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 26
Hernando Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 27
Highlands Aug 11

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 27
Hillsborough Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 28
Holmes Aug 12

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 1 Mar 22-26 May 26
Indian River Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 28
Jackson Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 25
Jun 10
Jefferson Aug 12

COVID info

 Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4  Mar 15-19 May 28
Lafayette Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 23 – Jan 11 Apr 12-16 May 28
Lake Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 18 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 28
Lee Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 Jun 2
Leon Aug 10
Aug 19COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 23 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 27
Levy Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 27
Liberty Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 27
Madison Aug 11

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 21
Manatee Aug 10
Aug 17COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 27
Marion Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 18- Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 26
Martin Aug 11

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 28
Miami-Dade Aug 24
Aug 31
Virtual StartCOVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 21 – Jan 3 Mar 26-Apr 2 Jun 9
Monroe Aug 13
Start VirtualCOVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 May 28
Nassau Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 25
Okaloosa Aug 11
Aug 31COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 28
Okeechobee Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 27
Orange Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 25
Osceola Aug 24

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 3 Mar 15-19 May 28
Palm Beach Aug 10
Aug 31
Virtual StartCOVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 28
Pasco Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-22 May 26
Pinellas Aug 12
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-22 May 27
Polk Aug 24

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 22-26 June 9
Putnam Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 19 – Jan 3 Mar 15-19 May 27
June 10
Santa Rosa Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 26
Sarasota Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 27
Seminole Aug 17

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan ? Mar 15-19 May ?
St Johns Aug 10
Aug 31COVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 25
St Lucie Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 28
Sumter Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 25-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 28
Suwannee Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Apr 19-23 May 27
Taylor Aug 10
Aug 24COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 15-19 May 28
Union Aug 12

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan ? Mar 15-19 May ?
Volusia Aug 17

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 4 Mar 19-27 June 4
Wakulla Aug 13

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 28
Walton Aug 10

COVID info

Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 15-19 May 26
Washington Aug 12
Aug 26COVID info
Nov 23-27 Dec 21 – Jan 5 Mar 22-26 May 28

 

New concealed weapons permitting applications delayed amid coronavirus closures

The Florida Department of of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing regional is delaying concealed weapons license application during the statewide COVID-19 crisis.

The move comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis recommended state offices temporarily close to the public from March 19 through April 19.

That means regional office personnel will not be available to fingerprint concealed weapons permit applicants, which is required to issue licenses.

Local law enforcement agencies and tax collector offices throughout the state have also begun to suspend fingerprint services. Halting those services makes first-time concealed weapons permit applicants unable to obtain fingerprints from those providers.

Only fingerprints submitted through an official law enforcement agency, a tax collector’s office or the Division of Licensing are valid for concealed weapons permits.

In order to prevent unnecessary financial burden or frustration to applicants, the state is delaying applications beginning Monday, March 23.

Existing concealed weapons permit holders with licenses set to expire will be automatically extended for 30-days pursuant to an elective order issued by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.

Qualifying security officers can still submit renewal applications online or through the mail and will not be affected.

Application Processing

Option 1

Mail-in
Each participant will receive a complete application packet.

Each packet contains:

  • application                                                         
  • fingerprint card 
  • concealed weapon license reference brochure
  • copy of state statute 790 weapons and firearms
  • copy of state statute 776 justifiable use of force
  • envelope for mailing your application


Fill out the application, (must be notarized), include a passport style photograph, a completed fingerprint card done by a law enforcement agency, a copy of the certificate you will receive for completing our firearm training course. (keep the original).

Be sure to include a check or money order for $117.00 payable to the Division of Licensing to cover the cost of processing your application.

Attention!
We will notarize your application for free!

Average time to process your application by mail-in option is approximately six (6) weeks.

* The maximum return time on CWL licenses is ninety (90) days

Option 2.
Broward County


In person electronic submission

You can go to a regional Division of Licensing office and have your application electronically processed.

All you need to bring is a copy of your certificate for completing our firearm training course (keep the original) and a government issued picture I.D. such as a drivers license.

You will fill in the application on a computer in their office. They will take your photograph for you and will also scan your fingerprints electronically. There is no additional cost beyond the $117.00 application fee for these services
 
Broward County Office
7800 Peters Road, C100
Plantation Florida 33324
954-308-4040
 

Palm Beach County Office
400 N. Congress Avenue, Suite 240
West Palm Beach Florida 33401
Phone : (561) 681-2530 Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm M-F

Miami-Dade County Office
7743 NW 48th Street, Suite 100
Doral, Florida 33166
Phone: (305) 639-3501 Hours:8:00am-4:30pm

Attention!
An appointment is required for electronic processing

Average time to process your application by electronic submission is approximately 10-12 business days.

Fingerprinting: “hard copy” (ink & card) and “livescan” (electronic) locations.

Fingerprinting must be done by a law enforcement agency or by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Division of Licensing per Florida
statute 790.06 section 5, paragraph C. The two closest regional offices of the Division of Licensing are listed above. Click here for a complete list of statewide locations.You can also submit your fingerprints electronically at the Broward Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Building located at 2601 West Broward Boulevard Fort Lauderdale 33311. They will give you a receipt which you include with your mail-in application. Fingerprinting at BSO is on Thursdays and requires an appointment. There is no charge for this service. Call BSO at 954-321-4400 for additional information. Most Florida sheriff offices offer livescan fingerprinting. Call the agency nearest you for additional information.Click here for a list of other Broward County law enforcement agencies. If you do not see your local law enforcement agency listed call them as most agencies offer hard copy fingerprinting.

 


Electronic submission can expedite the processing procedure
The state must mail your hard copy fingerprint card to the FBI for a background check and in turn the FBI mails back the results. Livescan fingerprints are forwarded via electronic mailing thus reducing the time for sending and returning the results.

This One Vitamin Could Help Fight Covid-19, Says Doctor

Why the Vitamin May Be Key

“COVID-19 causes blood clotting and leads to the degradation of elastic fibers in the lungs,” explains the paper about the findings. “Vitamin K, which is ingested through food and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, is key to the production of proteins that regulate clotting and can protect against lung disease.”

Since COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, this protection could be key in adding another level of protection. The research, headed up by Dr. Rob Janssen, was done in partnership with the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, a heart and vascular research institute in Europe. Over the course of a month, they studied 134 patients and found many who had died or been admitted to the ICU lacked the vitamin.

“My advice would be to take those vitamin K supplement,” Dr. Janssen told the Guardian. “Even if it does not help against severe Covid-19, it is good for your blood vessels, bones and probably also for the lungs. We are in a terrible, horrible situation in the world. We do have an intervention which does not have any side effects, even less than a placebo. There is one major exception: people on anti-clotting medication. It is completely safe in other people.”

How to Get More Vitamin K

“We have [vitamin] K1 and K2. K1 is in spinach, broccoli, green vegetables, blueberries, all types of fruit and vegetables,” Janssen continued. “K2 is better absorbed by the body. It is in Dutch cheese, I have to say, and French cheese as well.”

The recommended daily value of vitamin K is 120 micrograms for adult males and 90 micrograms for adult females.

“The best way to get the daily requirement of vitamin K is by eating food sources,” says MedLinePlus. “Vitamin K is found in the following foods:

  • Green leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach, turnip greens, collards, Swiss chard, mustard greens, parsley, romaine, and green leaf lettuce
  • Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage
  • Fish, liver, meat, eggs, and cereals (contain smaller amounts)”

How to Protect Yourself & Others

How to Protect Yourself & Others

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness. More information on Are you at higher risk for serious illness.

head side cough icon

Know how it spreads

  • There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
  • The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
    • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
    • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
    • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
    • Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Everyone Should

hands wash icon

Wash your hands often

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
people arrows icon

Avoid close contact

head side mask icon

Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

  • You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
  • Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
    • Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
  • The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
  • Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
  • Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
box tissue icon

Cover coughs and sneezes

  • If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
cleaning icon

Clean and disinfect

Combined Antibody Test for COVID-19

We have been working diligently to find a way to provide COVID-19 testing to our clients and their patients. The FDA only wants CLIA licensed labs with certifications in immunology, which Immuno Labs is qualified to perform. We have located at this time a limited supply of COVID-19 antibody tests that we could begin offering our physicians so they may test their patients.

The COVID-19 test is a rapid IgM-IgG combined antibody test for COVID-19 and is used to qualitatively detect IgG and IgM antibodies of the novel coronavirus in human serum.

  • This test is precise and has been validated with PCR.
  • May help to identify immunity to the virus, providing valuable insight to anyone who wants to understand his or her risk of becoming ill or transmitting the virus to others.
  • The specimen can be transported at room temperature and does not need to be chilled nor frozen for transport to our lab ensuring the validity and results are accurate.
  • Detects IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 utilizing a patient serum sample, indicating past or recent exposure to the virus.
  • Once we receive the specimen the test results only take 10-15mins and our turnaround time on sending results back to you will stay well within our always promised 48-72 hours.

What Florida’s ‘stay at home’ order means for residents

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Starting on Friday, a sweeping “stay at home” order will go into effect for the entire state of Florida.

According to the executive order issued on Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, “all persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.”

Recent Stories from wptv.com

But what exactly counts as an essential service or essential activity?

According to the executive order, here are some of the businesses, services, and activities that will remain open:

  • Religious services in churches, synagogues, and houses of worship
  • Recreational activities consistent with social distancing guidelines (walking, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running, swimming)
  • Taking care of pets
  • Caring for or otherwise assisting a loved one or friend
  • Health care providers (hospitals, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, urgent care centers, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, physical therapists, mental health professionals, psychiatrists, therapists, pharmacies)
  • Grocery stores, farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores
  • Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals
  • Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services
  • Gas stations
  • Auto supply, auto repair, and related facilities
  • Banks and related financial institutions
  • Hardware stores
  • Contractors and other tradesmen, appliance repair personnel, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and other structures
  • Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes
  • K-12 schools, public and private colleges and universities, trade schools, and technical colleges (distance learning only)
  • Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers
  • Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food (take-out and delivery only)
  • Businesses that supply office products
  • Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services via automobile, truck, bus, or train
  • Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children
  • Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult day care centers, and senior residential facilities
  • Professional services, such as legal or accounting services
  • Landscape and pool care businesses, including residential landscape and pool care services
  • Child care facilities
  • Businesses operating at any airport, seaport, or other government facility, including parks and government offices
  • Pet supply stores
  • Waste management services

It should be noted that hair salons and other hair care businesses are not listed as essential services or activities.

In addition, senior citizens and Floridians with significant underlying medical conditions (chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, serious heart conditions, immunocompromised status, cancer, diabetes, severe obesity, renal failure, and liver disease) “shall stay at home and take all measures to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19.”

The “stay at home” order will remain in effect until April 30.

COULD A 100-YEAR-OLD TUBERCULOSIS VACCINE HELP PREVENT COVID-19?

 

As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the world, researchers and public health experts are casting about for older vaccines and antiviral drugs that might be used to treat the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The prime examples are malaria drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) this weekend, despite criticism of the lack of evidence they work.

Researchers in Australia are turning to another older treatment, a vaccine once used to prevent tuberculosis (TB) called the bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), which has been used for about 100 years. Researchers have been taking a hard look at BCG for some time for other uses, including as an immunotherapy for early-stage bladder cancer.

And earlier this year, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted research with the BCG to see if it could be used to improve TB immunity. And now, in light of the way the BCG vaccine primes the immune system, it is being evaluated for COVID-19, which has at least a couple similarities to TB—they’re both lung infections caused by microorganisms.

Nigel Curtis, head of infectious diseases research at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, is running a study into BCG and COVID-19, which the World Health Organization (WHO) is encouraging other researchers to collaborate with.

“It can boost the immune system so that it defends better against a whole range of different infections, a whole range of different viruses and bacteria in a lot more generalized way,” said Curtis, who is also a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Melbourne and head of the infectious diseases unit at the city’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

In Curtis’s study, which will run six months, 4,000 healthcare workers will be vaccinated with BCG with the seasonal influenza vaccine or the influenza vaccine alone. A placebo vaccine isn’t being used because the BCG shot usually causes a localized skin reaction that leaves a scar.

Similar studies are ongoing in The Netherlands and Curtis indicated he is in talks with possible trial sites in Boston and in other Australian cities.

BCG is used to immunize about 130 million newborns around the globe each year. Research in babies in Africa demonstrated that BCG offers protections against TB and other pediatric infections.

“We need to think of every possible way that we can protect healthcare workers,” Curtis said. “And there’s going to be a particular need to reduce the amount of time that our healthcare workers are absent.”

He also added, “We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t think that this might work. We cannot guarantee that this will work. And of course, the only way to find out is with our trial.”

The BCG vaccine contains a live, weakened strain of Mycobacterium bovis, which is very similar to the microbe that causes tuberculosis.

Results from the trial, which will begin dosing on April 6, aren’t likely until September. Meanwhile, researchers worldwide are testing other drugs to respond to the pandemic, with over 100 ongoing clinical trials.

“I am hopeful that within three months we will have a good idea which drugs are good and which drugs are bad,” Australian National University geneticist Gaetan Burgio told the Asia Times. “The field is moving very quickly.”

 

LiveScanLabs Essential Services Statement

LiveScanLabs Essential Services Statement

March 21, 2020

LiveScanLabs is issuing the following statements regarding the continued operation of drug testing facilities during the COVID-19 crisis.

Drug testing is essential to public safety and business operations. Drug and alcohol testing is required by federal regulations for the transportation industry as described in 49 CFR Part 40 and drug, and alcohol testing must be completed per US Department of Transportation regulations for DOT agencies FMCSA, FAA, FTA, FRA and PHMSA.

Under the DOT’s Emergency Declaration Under 49 CFR § 390.23 No. 2020-002 (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/emergency-declaration-under-49-cfr-ss-39023-no-2020-002):

Nothing contained in this Emergency Declaration shall be construed as an exemption from the controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements (49 CFR Part 382), the commercial driver’s license requirements (49 CFR Part 383), the financial responsibility (insurance) requirements (49 CFR Part 387), the hazardous material regulations (49 CFR Parts 100-180), applicable size and weight requirements, or any other portion of the regulations not specifically exempted under to 49 CFR § 390.23.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s “Shelter in Place” Executive Order, effective 3/21/20 at 5 pm CDT, specifically lists Essential Services. LiveScanLabs falls under at least two categories.

The Healthcare and Public Health Operations section of the Executive Order specifically lists “organizations collecting blood, platelets, plasma, and other necessary materials; … other healthcare facilities and suppliers and providers of any related and/or ancillary healthcare services …. Healthcare and Public Health Operations shall be construed broadly to avoid any impacts to the delivery of healthcare, broadly defined. ”

Further, the Essential Infrastructure section lists Transportation. LiveScanLabs is an official Service Agent to the transportation industry, providing drug and alcohol testing as required by federal regulations. Without participation in random drug and alcohol testing programs, regulated employers and their employees are not permitted to operate.

In addition, non-regulated employers are required to provide safe workplaces. Many of these employers consider employee drug testing to be a tool essential to providing a safe workplace. Taking this valuable tool away would jeopardize employees as well as the general public. Employee drug testing is essential for all employers who employ safety-sensitive workers.

Specimen collections for drug testing must be conducted in person, and cannot be conducted remotely. LiveScanLabs provides essential services and at this time, our office is open and ready to serve you.

In order to protect our own employees, as well as those we test, all LiveScanLabs staff are trained to interact with donors according to CDC recommendations for health workers. In our clinic, we are utilizing hospital-grade disinfectants to keep all spaces clean and ready for work. Hand sanitizer is available to all who enter, and available chairs in our waiting room are a minimum of 6 feet apart. No more than 5 people will be permitted inside at once.

LiveScanLabs is encouraging healthy employees to complete their random testing. We are also asking DERs to call and make appointments with collection sites to ensure that employees are getting in and out as quickly as possible and that the sites are taking appropriate measures to protect themselves and your employees.

Please check this page for any updates.

 

Level 3 Travel Health

Depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice).

Countries that have a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (widespread, ongoing transmission):

  • China
  • Europe (Schengen Area): Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City
  • Iran
  • Ireland
  • Malaysia
  • South Korea
  • United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Planning for a Possible 2019-nCoV Outbreak in the US

Planning for a Possible 2019-nCoV Outbreak in the US

The severity of illness or how many people will fall ill from 2019-nCoV is unknown at this time. If there is evidence of a 2019-nCoV outbreak in the U.S., employers should plan to be able to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of severity and be prepared to refine their business response plans as needed. For the general American public, such as workers in non-healthcare settings and where it is unlikely that work tasks create an increased risk of exposures to 2019-nCoV, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV is considered low. The CDC and its partners will continue to monitor national and international data on the severity of illness caused by 2019-nCoV, will disseminate the results of these ongoing surveillance assessments, and will make additional recommendations as needed.

Planning Considerations

All employers need to consider how best to decrease the spread of acute respiratory illness and lower the impact of 2019-nCoV in their workplace in the event of an outbreak in the US. They should identify and communicate their objectives, which may include one or more of the following: (a) reducing transmission among staff, (b) protecting people who are at higher risk for adverse health complications, (c) maintaining business operations, and (d) minimizing adverse effects on other entities in their supply chains.  Some of the key considerations when making decisions on appropriate responses are:

  • Disease severity (i.e., number of people who are sick, hospitalization and death rates) in the community where the business is located;
  • Impact of disease on employees that are vulnerable and may be at higher risk for 2019-nCoV adverse health complications. Inform employees that some people may be at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions.
  • Prepare for possible increased numbers of employee absences due to illness in employees and their family members, dismissals of early childhood programs and K-12 schools due to high levels of absenteeism or illness:
    • Employers should plan to monitor and respond to absenteeism at the workplace. Implement plans to continue your essential business functions in case you experience higher than usual absenteeism.
    • Cross-train personnel to perform essential functions so that the workplace is able to operate even if key staff members are absent.
    • Assess your essential functions and the reliance that others and the community have on your services or products. Be prepared to change your business practices if needed to maintain critical operations (e.g., identify alternative suppliers, prioritize customers, or temporarily suspend some of your operations if needed).
  • Employers with more than one business location are encouraged to provide local managers with the authority to take appropriate actions outlined in their business infectious disease outbreak response plan based on the condition in each locality.
  • Coordination with stateexternal icon and localexternal icon health officials is strongly encouraged for all businesses so that timely and accurate information can guide appropriate responses in each location where their operations reside. Since the intensity of an outbreak may differ according to geographic location, local health officials will be issuing guidance specific to their communities.

Brain Optimization Panel

Brain Optimization Panel.

The best way to find out what is going on and identify any red flags for your brain health is a comprehensive lab panel that looks into key biomarkers, including:

* Homocysteine
* Hight – sensitivity CRP
* Vitamin B12
* Serum Folate ( Vitamine B9)
* Vitamine D
* Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
* Hemoglobin A1c
* Fasting Glucose and Insulin
* Copper
* Mercury
* Lead
* Zinc
Total Iron and Iron Binding Capacity

> We accept Insurance and Self Pay
> Lowest Price Guaranteed
> Tests Report in Confidential and HIPPA Complaint
954-404-9789
www.LiveScanLabs.com

FMCSA Clearinghouse

 

 

 

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Clearinghouse will become operational on January 6, 2020, and FMCSA-regulated employers must be ready to comply with the Clearinghouse requirements on that date. The FMCSA Clearinghouse is an electronic database that will contain information about commercial motor vehicle drivers’ drug and alcohol program violations. Although the Clearinghouse rule actually took effect on January 4, 2017, the implementation date for FMCSA-regulated employers is January 6, 2020. See 49 CFR Part 382, Subpart G, among others.

https://www.drugtestlawadvisor.com/2016/12/fmcsa-finalizes-rule-on-national-drug-and-alcohol-testing-clearinghouse/The Clearinghouse rule requires FMCSA-regulated employers, Medical Review Officers, Substance Abuse Professionals, consortia/third-party administrators and other service agents to report to the Clearinghouse information related to violations of FMCSA’s drug and alcohol testing regulations by current and prospective employees. In addition:

  • Employers must query the Clearinghouse for current and prospective employees’ drug and alcohol program violations before permitting those employees to operate a commercial motor vehicle on public roads.
  • Employers are required to query the Clearinghouse annually for each driver they currently employ.
  • State driver licensing agencies will be required to query the Clearinghouse whenever a CDL (commercial driver’s license) is issued, renewed, transferred or upgraded.

Here are the important dates that FMCSA-regulated employers must be aware of, and steps to take to prepare for compliance:

Fall 2019:

Register with the Clearinghouse. Employers (and their service agents) should log on to the FMCSA Clearinghouse to register with the Clearinghouse and become familiar with the site. See: https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/. Clearinghouse registration is valid for five years, unless cancelled or revoked.

Revise Drug and Alcohol Testing PolicIn addition, FMCSA regulations require employers to add language to their FMCSA drug and alcohol testing policies to notify drivers and driver-applicants that the following information will be reported to the Clearinghouse:

  • A verified positive, adulterated, or substituted drug test result;
  • An alcohol confirmation test with a concentration of 0.04 or higher;
  • A refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test;
  • An employer’s report of actual knowledge, as defined at 49 CFR § 382.107;
  • On duty alcohol use pursuant to 49 CFR § 382.205;
  • Pre-duty alcohol use pursuant to 49 CFR § 382.207;
  • Alcohol use following an accident pursuant to 49 CFR § 382.209;
  • Drug use pursuant to 49 CFR § 382.213;
  • A SAP’s report of the successful completion of the return-to-duty process;
  • A negative return-to-duty test; and,
  • An employer’s report of completion of follow-up testing.

January 6, 2020:

Queries of New Hires/Transfers: Employers must query the Clearinghouse before allowing a newly-hired commercial motor vehicle driver (or current employee who transfers into such a position) to begin operating a commercial motor vehicle. Drivers must sign a consent form allowing the employer to do so.

Annual Queries of Current Employees. Employers must query the Clearinghouse at least once per year for each driver they currently employ. Drivers must sign a consent form allowing the employer to do so. The employer must maintain records of all queries and information obtained in response to the query, for a period of three years. (As of January 6, 2023, an employer who maintains a valid registration fulfills this requirement).

Reporting of Drug and Alcohol Program Violations. Employers must report drivers’ drug and alcohol program violations (listed in the bullet points above) to the Clearinghouse within three business days after the employer learns of the information.

Employers must prohibit drivers who have violated FMCSA’s drug and alcohol program regulations from performing safety-sensitive duties unless the driver complies with the return-to-duty process set forth at 49 CFR Part 40, Subpart O (requiring SAP evaluation, possible treatment, return-to-duty testing and follow-up testing).

January 6, 2023:

Safety Performance History Investigations. In addition to the items listed above, employers also will be required to conduct the drug and alcohol testing portion of the safety performance history investigation of driver-applicants through the Clearinghouse. Employers still will be required to obtain the other information required by the safety performance history investigation regulations (e.g., accident history) directly from the driver-applicants’ previous DOT-regulated employers, because that information is not reported to the Clearinghouse.

Employers who do not comply with the FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements are subject to the civil and/or criminal penalties set forth at 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(C) (i.e., civil penalties not to exceed $2,500 for each offense).

FMCSA-regulated employers should review and revise their drug and alcohol testing policies and become familiar with the Clearinghouse requirements before the implementation date.

Glutathione (GSH)

Glutathione (GSH) Nitribooster

Glutathione is the body’s own master antioxidant, and essential in many biological processes in human body. Based on clinical researches posted www.PubMed.gov GSH was proven to improve your immune system, maximize the function of antioxidant, and support detoxification, and increase energy, strength level.

The GSH is a protein composed of 3 amino acids: Cysteine, Glutamine, Glycine, has produced by liver, and naturally present in the body from birth to death. But as we age the level GSH reduced at an average rate of 10% per decade after age 20, and we need supplements. The sources of GSH are garlic, onions, broccoli, Brussels spoors, parsley, spinach, beets, avocado, squash, asparagus, grapefruit, apples, oranges, peaches, bananas, melon, cherries, dairy products and eggs.

According researched to date, raising GSH level has been Clinically Proven to be beneficial for people diagnosed:

  • AIDS
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Asthma
  • All Cancers
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic Fatig
  • Autoimmune disorder
  • Glaucoma
  • Kidney, Liver, Lungs
  • Hepatitis
  • Multiply Sclerosis
  • Heart diseases

Glutathione (GSH) Deficiency:

The GSH deficiency occurs when your body is unable to produce enough glutathione, and become the main cause onset of the disease, or its progression, severity. According the research published in “Clinical Epidemiology”, “ The Immune System Care” journals has shown that most of chronic conditions reveals GSH’s deficiency.

Also, reducing the glutathione level may present in people to be in a good health stage. There are several reasons for that one of them is age, because GSH production reduced naturally an average rate of 10% per decade after age 20. Next is exposed to smoke, environmental pollution, viruses, and consumes not proper nutrition on daily basis.

The symptoms may include:

  • Dry skin
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Sleep Disorder
  • Weakness/Lack of energy
  • Depression
  • Brain “fog”
  • Joint pain
  • Rashes
  • Onset of a more serious health condition

What does GSH do in our bodies?

Detoxification – the glutathione destroys large numbers of toxins and radiations by convert in soluble compound then being excreted through the urine or bile.
Antioxidant – GSH is the powerful antioxidant to remove of toxins from body. The proper function of GSH makes positively effect on biomechanical processes in the bodies.
Repair DNA – Free radicals is constantly attack our body, and nearest molecules to “stealing” its electron. A molecule that loses electron then converts in a free radical. Once its started over and over, and converted cell dies or mutated. At times, the mutated cell converted to cancer. To replacing the missing electron in mutated cell performs by GSN, and elevated and maintaining GSH level can help to minimize mutation of DNA cells.

Increase energy – the biomechanical mechanism within your cells effect on our energy level, to muscle function, and even your sense of well-being. Clinical researches have shown that GSH includes mitochondria of a cell, enchanting muscle strength and endurance.
Side effect and contraindications: GSH is mostly safe for adults when taken by intramuscular, intravenous injections. The possible side effects are not known.
Special Precautions & Warning: if you are pregnant and/or breast – feeding you have to get doctor’s consultation. The medicine doesn’t have enough researches about GSH in pregnancy.

Yearly Blood Screening is a Key to Maintain Healthy Life Extension

     The LiveScanLabs provides the 10 most important blood tests , which are an essential part of yearly screening to maintain optimal  health and prevent life treating health problems before they occur.
     Annual blood testing is the most important step aging adults can take to prevent Life-threating disease. With blood test results in hand, you can catch critical changes in your body before they manifest as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or worse. Having the proper blood tests can empower you to enact a science-based disease-prevention program that could add decades of healthy life.
     Sadly, but most annual medical check-up involve the physician ordering only routine blood tests. Far too often, this blood work does not even test for important markers of disease risk. The consequences of failing to analyze blood for proven markers of disease risk are needless disability and death. Blood test have benefits that go far beyond disease prevention. For instance, by monitoring levels of sex hormones, you can take decisive steps to enhance your quality of life, perhaps by correcting a depressive mental state, creative dysfunction, abdominal obesity, or improving your memory and energy levels.
     At least once a year monitoring of these blood tests can drastically improve your quality of life:
* Chemistry Panel/Complete blood Count/Lipid Panel,
* Fibrinogen,
* Hemoglobin A1c,
* DHEA
* PSA (for men)
* Homocysteine
* C-Reactive Protein
* Thyroid Stimulation Hormone
* Free Testosterone and Estradiol
     ChemistryPanel/CBC/Lipid Panel this is a Low – cost panel will give you and your physician a quick snapshot of your overall health. This is comprehensive panels to assess your vascular, liver, kidney, and blood cell status. The CBC measures the number, variety, percentage concentration, and quality of platelets, red blood cells, and white cells, and this is useful in screening infections, anemias an other hematological abnormalities.
The Chemistry Panel provides information on the status of your cardiovascular system by testing for total cholesterol, HDL ( hight density lipoprotein), LDL ( low density lipoprotein), triglycerides, and the total cholesterol/HDL ratio.   The Chemistry Panel also measures blood glucose, which is critically important for detecting early-stage metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Also, Chemistry Panel is an assessment of critical minerals such as calcium, potassium, and iron.
     Fibrinogen is an important contributor to blood clotting, fibrinogen levels increase in response to tissue inflammation. Since the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease are essentially inflammatory processes, increased fibrinogen levels can help predict the risk of heart disease, stroke, and rheumatoid arthritis, and glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney).
     In a recently published study from University of Hong Kong Medical Center, researches identified increased levels of fibrinogen in an blood as an independent risk factor for mortality in a patient with peripheral arterial disease, and riskier venous thrombosis blood clotting), and presence of higher fibrinogen levels associates with presence of multiple coronary lesions in patients who had suffered an acute myocardial infraction.
     A combination of lifestyle and behavioral changes-such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and becoming more physically active-may help to lower fibrinogen levels to optimize fibrinogen levels.
Hemoglobin A1c is one of the best ways to assess your glucose status is testing for hemoglobin A1c9HbA1c). This test measures a person’s blood sugar control over the last two  to three months and is an independent predictor of heart disease risk in persons with or without diabetes. Maintaining healthy hemoglobin A1c levels may also help patients with diabetes to prevent some of the complications of the disease.
     The American Diabetes Association recommends testing HbA1c every three to six months to monitor blood sugar levels in insulin-treated patients, in patients who are changing therapy, and in patients with elevated blood glucose levels. Since HbA1c is not subject to the some fluctuations that normally occur with daily glucose monitoring, it represents a more accurate picture of blood sugar control.
     Nutrition therapies may help to optimize hemoglobin A1c levels.
     Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA0, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, is a precursor to the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. Blood levels of DHEA peak in one’s twenties and then decline dramatically with age. DHEA frequently referred to as an “anti-aging” hormone. Healthy levels of DHEA may support immune function, bone density, libido, and healthy body composition.
Elevated levels of DHEA may indicate congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a group of disorders that result from impaired ability of the adrenal glands to produce glucocorticoids.
     In the recent study published in the National Institute of Mental Health, and Journal of Investigative Dermatology demonstrated that DHEA significantly improved midline-onset major and minor depression in men and women aged 45-65 years old, and optimal range of DHEA accelerate wound healing, such as venous ulcers, and in the elderly population.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein manufactured by prostate gland in men. Elevated levels may suggest an enlarged prostate inflammation, or prostatic cancer. PSA levels may also be used to monitor the efficiency of therapeutic regimens for prostate conditions.
Elevated levels of PSA may not be necessarily signal prostate cancer, and prostate cancer may not always be accompanied by expression of PSA. Levels can be elevated in the presence of a urinary tract infection or an inflamed prostate.
     The American Cancer Society recommends annual PSA testing for men beginning at age 50. Men who are at hight risk should begin PSA testing at age 40-45. PSA levels increase with age, even in the absence of prostate abnormalities.
     A healthy Mediterranean-type diet may offer protection against prostate cancer and other diseases associated with aging. Natural therapies may also help support prostate health.
The amino acid homocysteine is formed in the body during the metabolism of methionine.  Hight homocysteine levels have been associated with increase risk of heart attack, bone fracture, and poor cognitive function. Incremental increased risk for coronary artery disease. Homocysteine has also become recognized as an independent risk factor for bone fractures. Investigators in the Netherlands concluded that high homocysteine levels and low vitamins B12 concentrations were significantly associated with an increased risk for bone fracture, and to be an important and independent risk factor for osteoporotic fractures, including hip fractures, and found association between elevated homocysteine levels and age-related macular degeneration.
 Natural therapies may hell to optimize homocysteine levels. You may wish to discuss with your doctor the use of vitamin B12, B6, folic acid, and trimethylglycine.
     Increasingly, medical science is discovering that inflammation within the body can lead to a range of life-treating degenerative diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, macular degeneration, and cognitive decline. By measuring your body’s level of inflammation through regular C-reactive protein testing, you can devise a strategy of diet, exercise, and supplementation to half many of these conditions.
     C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation that has emerged as a powerful predictor of coronary heart disease and other diseases of the cardiovascular system. The highly sensitive cardiac CPR test measures C-reactive protein in the blood at very early stages of vascular diseases, allowing for appropriate intervention with diet, supplements, or anti-inflammatory therapy. The cardiac CPR test detects much smaller levels of inflammation than the basis CRP test, so is therefore able to identify at-risk patients earlier, even among apparently healthy persons.
A review of epidemiological data found that hight-sensitivity cardiac CRP was able to predict risk of incident myocardial infraction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and sudden cardiac death among healthy individuals with no history of cardiovascular disease, as well as predict recurrent events and death in patients with acute or stable coronary syndromes. This inflammatory marker provided prognostic information that was independent of other measured of risk such as cholesterol level, metabolic syndrome, and high blood pressure.Investigators concluded that greater level of cardiac CRP are associated with higher cardiovascular risk. According to research, these data support the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of type II diabetes, and progression of age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, major depression in men.
     Natural therapies may help to optimize hight-sensitivity CRP levels.
     Thyroid Stimulation Hormone (TSH) is a hormone secretion in the thyroid. When blood levels fall below normal, this indicates hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid activity, also called thyrotoxicosis), and when values are above normal, this suggests hypothyroidism (low thyroid activity). Overt hyper- or hypothyroidism is generally easy to diagnose, but subclinical disease can be more elusive.
Because the symptoms of thyroid imbalance may be nonspecific or absent and may progress slowly, and since many doctors do not routinely screen for thyroid function, people with mild hyper- or hypothyroidism can go undiagnosed for some time. Undiagnosed mild disease can progress to clinical disease states. This is a dangerous scenario, since people with hypothyroidism and elevated serum cholesterol and LDL have an increased risk of atherosclerosis.
Mild hyperthyroidism may be associated with reversible hight blood cholesterol and cognitive dysfunction, as well as such nonspecific symptoms as fatigue, depression, cold intolerance, dry skin, constipation, and weight gain.
Mild hyperthyroidism is often associated with arterial fibrillation, reduce bone mineral density, and nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, heart intolerance, nervousness, insomnia, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations.
     The American Thyroid Association recommends screening for TSH levels beginning at age 35, and every 5 years thereafter.
     Natural therapies may help to optimize TSH level, and support thyroid health.
     Testosterone is produced in the testes in men, in the ovaries in women, and in the adrenal glands of both men and women. Men and women alike can be dramatically affected by the decline in tester one levels that occurs with aging. Testosterone plays different roles in men and women, including the regulation of fertility, libido, and muscle mass. In men, free testosterone levels may be used to evaluate whether sufficient bioactive testosterone is available to protect against abdominal obesity, mental depression, osteoporosis, and heart diseases. In women, low levels of testosterone have been associated with decreased libido and well-being, while high levels of free testosterone may indicate hirsuitism ( a condition of excessive hair growth on the face and chest) or polycystic ovarian syndrome. Increased testosterone in women may also indicate low estrogen levels. In men, testosterone levels normally decline with age. This drop in testosterone is partially responsible for  the significant physiological changes seen in aging men. In fact, low testosterone levels are associated with numerous adverse health conditions, including diminished libido, metabolic syndrome, executive dysfunction, loss of muscle tone, increased abdominal fat, low bone density, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, type II diabetes, and atherosclerosis.
     Optimal testosterone levels may support healthy mood, libido, body composition, and cardiovascular wellness. You may wish to discuss with your doctor the use of supplements such as DHEA and pregnenolone. Speak to physician to determine whether prescription testosterone may also helpful for you.
     Estradiol is a like testosterone, both men and women need estrogen for numerous physiological functions. Estradiol is the primary circulating form of estrogen in men and women, and is an indicator of hypothalamic and pituitary function. Men produce estradiol in much smaller amounts than do women; most estradiol is produced from testosterone and adrenal steroid  hormones, and a fraction is produced directly by the tests. In women, estradiol vary through the menstrual cycle, and drop too low but constant levels after menopause.
In women, blood estradiol levels help to evaluate menopausal status and sexual maturity. Increased levels in women may indicate an increased risk for breast or endometrial cancer. Estradiol plays a role to supporting healthy bone density in men and women.
      According a recently published report from the University of Michigan School of public health, lower estradiol levels in women associated with higher levels of markers of cardiovascular disease risk.
      Optimal estradiol levels may support health, bone density, and well-being. You may wish to discuss with your doctor the use of supplements such as DHEA, pregnenolone, soy, black cohosh, and pomegranate.  Speak to your physician to determine whether prescription therapies such as biogenetical estrogens may be helpful for you.
     Yearly blood testing is a simple yet powerful strategy to help you proactively take change of your current and future health. A well-chosen complement of blood tests can throughly assess your overall state of health, and as well as detect the silence warning signals that precede the development of serious diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Benefit of Intramuscular(IM) Injections

Nutritional Therapy is a powerful way to infuse an essential substances directly in cells, and accelerate recovery, healing, and well being

  • (IM) injections are better absorbed by the body since the substances go directly into muscle tissue which has a great blood supply
  • (IM) injections are not effected intestinal and/or stomach lines
  • Total amount of infusion is available to the tissue
  • Nutrients forced into cells
  • Vitamins, Amino Acids, Minerals helps maintain the good health, and has been shown to be beneficial in helping for reduce stress, fatigue, improve mental alertness, increase energy, and endurance, weight loss
  • Support immune system; may help to improve sleep, and reduce allergy
  • Heavy metal detoxification

A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER SCREEN PANEL!

11 blood tests result to help guide the diagnosis
* AFFORDABLE PRICES
* WALK-IN WELCOME
* NO DOCTOR’S REFERRAL NEEDED
* CONFIDENTIAL

STOP PANIC DUE TO HAIR LOSS

The LiveScanLabs provides essential HAIR TOXIC & ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS PROFILE contains an expanded Lineup of toxic metals. This Profile provides important information which, can assist the physician with an early diagnosis:
* Toxic Element Exposure * Malabsorption
* Alopecia * Kidney Function
* Depression * Parkinson’s symptoms
* Vision Problem * Fatigue
* Sexual Impotence * Hypertension
Scalp hair is easy to sample, and because it grows an average of one to two cm per month, it contains a “temporal record of elements are incorporated permanently into a hair with no further exchange or equilibration with other tissue. Nutrients elements including magnesia, chromium, zinc, copper and selenium are obligatory co-factors for hundreds of important enzymes and also are essential for the normal functions of vitamins. The levels of those elements in hair are correlated with levels in organs and other tissues. The toxic elements may be 200 to 300 times more highly concentrate in hair than in blood, urine. Therefore, hair is the tissue of choice for detection of recent exposure to elements mercury, antimony, lead, arsenic, aluminum, cadmium. The US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY stated in recent report, that
“… if hair samples are properly collected and cleaned and analyses by the best analytic methods, using standards and blanks as required in a clean and reliable laboratory by experienced personnel, the date are reliable US

USCIS to stop accepting the TB skin test

USCIS to stop accepting the TB skin test

Beginning October 1, 2018, the tuberculin skin test (TST) will no longer be accepted for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) immigration exams (1). All US civil surgeons must use a TB blood test (interferon-gamma release assay or IGRA) as the initial screening method when a test for cell-mediated immunity to TB is required. This new requirement aligns with current CDC recommendations stating that IGRA testing is strongly preferred for those who are BCG-vaccinated.