News
Bedok TB screening: 85.1% of 3,169 people test negative, 473 require further checks
Most of those who tested positive are expected to have a latent TB infection, which does not pose a public health risk, CDA said.
May 13, 2026, 05:12 PM
Photos from Z/Google Maps and Mothership
Among the 3,169 people who were screened for tuberculosis (TB) from May 2 to 8 at Bedok Central, 85.1 per cent tested negative.
The remaining 14.9 per cent — 473 people — tested positive for the infectious disease on their blood test, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on May 13.
These people will require a follow-up chest X-ray to determine if they have active TB or latent TB infection (LTBI).
Most of them are expected to have LTBI, which means they do not exhibit symptoms of TB, are not infectious, and therefore do not pose a public health risk.
"A positive blood test result does not mean a person has active TB disease," the agency explained. "The blood test indicates whether a person has been exposed to the TB bacteria, and a further chest X-ray is needed to determine their actual health status."
Within expectations
The results of the screening is within expectations, given the transmission clusters in the area, and the high proportion of seniors living there, CDA said.
CDA added that LTBI is not uncommon in Singaporeans, and its prevalence increases with age. In 2015, 12.7 per cent of all Singapore residents had LTBI.
Those who underwent the screening were tenants, workers, and people who frequent the three locations linked to the three TB clusters recorded in the area: Heartbeat@Bedok, Block 216 Bedok Food Centre & Market, and Singapore Pools Bedok Betting Centre.
There were 1,255 people screened who were part of the mandatory group, while 41 remaining people have yet to complete the screening or book an appointment for it.
Screening and further tests will continue to be offered free of charge until Jun. 5.
Follow-up X-ray tests
People who tested negative on the blood test will be notified via SMS.
As for those who tested positive, CDA said it is contacting them via phone calls to arrange for a chest X-ray appointment.
There will be on-site mobile chest X-ray tests at Heartbeat@Bedok from May 13 to 15, with SATA CommHealth as an alternative venue.
After taking the tests, people who receive normal chest X-ray results will be referred to SATA CommHealth Bedok to undergo TB preventive treatment, which is voluntary and the costs of which will be covered by CDA.
Those with an abnormal results will be further evaluated at the National Tuberculosis Care Centre, and they will be treated promptly if diagnosed with active TB disease.
Contact tracing for each active TB case will be conducted in accordance with current contact tracing protocols, to identify and evaluate close contacts for screening, CDA said.
