Health Department: 'Final' tuberculosis test results not in

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County School Officials said third grade students at Pearl Haskew Elementary School were given their tuberculosis results in a sealed envelope, Friday, January 25.

"Those results went home in the children's book bag or one way or another with the child. And the parents were told to ask for that letter so they will know the results," said Mobile County Public School System spokesperson Nancy Pierce.

A spokesperson with the Mobile County Health Department said students were not given the final results.

Students were tested for tuberculosis on January 22 after health experts said a 46-year-old female teacher tested positive for TB and may have exposed students to the infectious disease.

More than one hundred people were tested. School officials said they don't know how many, if any, tested positive.

"As for the overall results, we will find those out next week," said Pierce.

It is unclear whether the results will be made public due to confidentiality laws.

When we asked a Mobile County Health Department spokesman why the school system has not been notified with the results, they said the final results are not in yet. The spokesperson declined an interview.

We asked for clarification on the test results and were told the person we needed to talk to was not available.

There are still some unanswered questions about the test results. For example, if the final results are not in yet, what was given to the students on Friday?

We will continue to ask these questions.