Uniting for Ukraine: Tuberculosis Information and Resources

On May 21, 2022, President Biden signed into law emergency supplemental appropriations (Public Law 117-128) that included funds for medical support, screening, and other public health activities related to populations displaced from Ukraine.  Under the Uniting for Ukraine program, an estimated 100,000 displaced Ukrainians are expected to arrive in the United States.  The program is a pathway for Ukrainian citizens to come to the United States and stay temporarily for a two-year period.  Entry to the United States for Ukrainian citizens under this pathway is known as “parole.”  Shortly after arrival, Ukrainians participating in the program must meet specific health requirements, including vaccinations and tuberculosis (TB) testing.

To support this effort, CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination awarded approximately $27 million in supplemental funding under CDC-RFA-PS20-2001 to currently funded states, cities, and territories for screening, evaluation, and treatment of latent TB infection and TB disease among Ukrainians paroled into the United States.

This webpage will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

Information for Arrivals and Sponsors

People arriving in the United States as part of Uniting for Ukraine must be screened for TB disease.

All people two years of age or older will need to be screened for TB by getting an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) test within 90 days after arrival to the United States. An IGRA is a blood test to tell if a person has been infected with TB germs. It does not tell whether the person has latent TB infection or has progressed to TB disease.

Contact your local or state health department to find out how to get tested.  

Your local or state health department may be able to provide you with a TB blood test or refer you to other testing locations. You may also be able to get a TB blood test at a healthcare provider’s office or a local laboratory.

For the TB blood test, a healthcare provider or laboratory technician will draw your blood and send it to a laboratory for analysis and results. Only one visit is needed to draw blood for the test, but results can take up to 4 weeks.

If you have a positive reaction to the TB blood test, your doctor or nurse will do other tests to see if you have TB disease.

TB screening costs may vary by location.  

Check with your local health department for information on TB screening costs. Certain Ukrainian persons may be eligible for benefits through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) or through other federally funded benefit programs. Additional details are available on the ORR website. Coverage of the initial TB screening and blood test will depend on when you apply for benefits or health insurance, whether the state offers retroactive coverage, and if the healthcare provider can bill your health insurance. TB screening may be available for free or at a reduced cost at local and state health departments.

Information for Health Departments and Community-based Organizations

• Uniting for Ukraine Sample Newsletter and Text Message Content
• Uniting for Ukraine Social Media Resources
• Webinar: Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (December 1, 2022)
• Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health – MN Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)
• Dear Colleague Letter: Uniting for Ukraine Drug-Resistance (August 1, 2022)
• Dear Colleague Letter: Uniting for Ukraine Program (June 21, 2022)
• Notice of Funding Opportunity: Ukraine Supplemental Funds
• Sample Letter to Refugee Services Partners

Find TB Resources: Ukrainian and Russian Materials

Find TB Resources: Ukrainian Language Materials

Find TB Resources: Russian Language Materials