An environmental examination is a precautionary examination carried out by the public health department of all adults and children who have had contact with a person with infectious pulmonary tuberculosis. This involves checking whether someone in the environment has been infected or whether a person has transmitted the tuberculosis in order to prevent the disease from spreading.

Sick patients must inform the public health department of the people they have been in contact with in the last 6 months. These can be family members, roommates, colleagues or friends. Based on the type and duration of contact, the staff at the public health department will assess how high the risk of infection was. If there is a relevant risk, a precautionary examination is carried out, which may include blood tests, skin tests or an X-ray of the lungs. In some cases, several tests may be necessary.

If an infection is detected, preventive treatment is recommended. This can prevent contracting tuberculosis. If infected persons are found during the environmental examination, they can be treated at an early stage to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.