Puerto Rico health officials allow TB test exemption for health certificates amid national shortage
The Department of Health issued an administrative order permitting certificates without the tuberculin test for low-risk individuals, aligning with CDC guidance.
The short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reported a national shortage of the tuberculin test component affecting Puerto Rico and the United States
- Secretary of Health Víctor Ramos signed an order allowing health certificates with only syphilis and hepatitis C tests for those without TB risk factors or symptoms
- Primera Hora reported the order will remain in effect while the shortage lasts, after the manufacturer indicated delays in restoring normal supply
- The measure follows CDC recommendations and aims to meet legal requirements for issuing health certificates in Puerto Rico
Shortage prompts policy change
Puerto Rico's Department of Health is responding to a national shortage of the component needed for the tuberculin skin test used to detect tuberculosis. Metro Puerto Rico reported on Oct. 15, 2026 that Secretary of Health Víctor Ramos signed an administrative order allowing health certificates to be issued without the TB test when individuals show no risk factors or symptoms of active tuberculosis.
According to both Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora, the order means only the VDRL test for syphilis and the hepatitis C test will be required in such cases. Ramos told reporters the manufacturer has indicated it will take time to return to normal supply levels.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Hay una escasez nacional, en todo Estados Unidos, del componente para la prueba de tuberculina. Así que la orden establece que, si no existen factores de riesgo, ni los síntomas que puedan estar asociados con tuberculosis activa, se puede emitir el certificado de salud con las otras dos muestras que se requieren
Our translation: There is a national shortage, throughout the United States, of the component for the tuberculin test. So the order establishes that, if there are no risk factors or symptoms that may be associated with active tuberculosis, the health certificate can be issued with the other two samples that are required
The source's own statement, as quoted by Metro Puerto Rico. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Alignment with federal guidance
Metro Puerto Rico reported that the change is consistent with current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and complies with Puerto Rico law governing health certificate requirements. The secretary emphasized that tuberculosis is an infectious but preventable and curable disease, and that timely identification remains important.
The administrative order will stay in force for the duration of the shortage, Primera Hora reported on Oct. 13, 2026. Ramos made the announcement during a press conference at La Fortaleza.
Where the sources differ
Both Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora agree on the existence of a national shortage of the tuberculin test component, the issuance of an administrative order by Secretary Víctor Ramos, the conditions for exempting the test (no risk factors or symptoms), and that the alternative tests are for syphilis and hepatitis C. Metro Puerto Rico provides the most detail on alignment with CDC recommendations and the legal context for health certificates. Primera Hora notes the order will remain in effect while the shortage lasts and includes additional unrelated announcements from the same press conference. The sources differ slightly on the exact date of the announcement, with Primera Hora reporting it on Oct. 13 and Metro on Oct. 15.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not specify when the shortage began, how long it is expected to last, the current number of health certificates issued annually in Puerto Rico, or whether alternative TB testing methods such as blood tests are being considered or made available. They also do not address whether the policy change has any impact on public health surveillance for tuberculosis on the island.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Escasean en Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos pruebas para detectar tuberculosis
- Reporting Escasean en Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos pruebas para detectar tuberculosis
- Reporting En escasez las pruebas de tuberculosis
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico and Primera Hora both covered the Department of Health's response to the tuberculin test shortage and the administrative order signed by Secretary Víctor Ramos. Details on CDC alignment, legal compliance and the manufacturer's timeline rest primarily on Metro Puerto Rico's account.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.