Latent Tuberculosis Infection Test and Treatment Programme: cohort identification methodology

The retrospective cohort was produced in June 2025.

The ongoing cohort will be run every four months and is to be used to identify individuals who may be eligible for testing and treatment of latent TB.

The national LTBI testing and treatment programme is an important evidence-based intervention, part of the TB Action Plan for England, 2021 to 2026 written and published jointly by UKHSA and NHSE. The strategy aims to achieve a consistent year on year decrease in incidence, a reduction in health inequalities and eventually the elimination of TB as a public health issue in England. The programme aims to systematically test and treat new migrants aged 16-35 arriving from countries that have a TB incidence equivalent to or beyond 150 per 100,000 or if they are arriving from sub–Saharan Africa.

Individuals eligible for the testing are primarily identified by GP practices by new patient registration. Flag 4 data refers to the registration type (Type 4) used when a person registers with a new GP and has entered the UK from overseas and has either:

• never been a resident of the UK
• previously been resident in the UK but has lived outside the UK for a period of 3 months

The scope of the quarterly cohort is to identify those who are:

• age 16-35 
• Flag 4 GP registration 
• within sub-integrated care boards (sub-ICBs) specified by the LTBI programme

Data set used is:

• Personal Demographics Service

All those aged between 16-35 with a Flag 4 GP registration within the specified sub-ICBs.