Virginia Code Title 32.1. Health § 32.1-49.1. Definitions

“Active tuberculosis disease” means a communicable disease caused by an airborne microorganism and characterized by the presence of either (i) a specimen of sputum or other bodily fluid or tissue that has been found to contain tubercle bacilli as evidenced by culture or other definitive diagnostic test as established by the Commissioner, (ii) a specimen of sputum or other bodily fluid or tissue that is suspected to contain tubercle bacilli as evidenced by smear and sufficient clinical and radiographic evidence of active tuberculosis disease is present as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth, or (iii) sufficient clinical and radiographic evidence of active tuberculosis disease as determined by the Commissioner is present, but a specimen of sputum or other bodily fluid or tissue containing or suspected to contain tubercle bacilli is unobtainable.

“Tubercle bacilli” means disease-causing organisms belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum or other members as established by the Commissioner.

“Tuberculosis” means a disease caused by tubercle bacilli.