H.R. 9561: Shandra Eisenga TB Study Act of 2026

This bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study whether it is possible to create a reliable, standardized test for tuberculosis (TB) in tissue from a deceased human donor.

What the study would cover

The study would look at how such a test could help improve:

• screening of tissue and organ donors,
• safety in transplants and tissue donation, and
• the overall system used for donating organs and tissue after death.

Who would be involved

HHS would have to carry out the study in consultation with several federal agencies, including:

• the National Institutes of Health,
• the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
• the Food and Drug Administration, and
• the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The study would also involve people and organizations with experience in organ and tissue donation systems, such as organ procurement organizations and tissue banks.

What the study would examine

The bill says the study may include an assessment of:

• the current scientific knowledge about TB testing and where research is still lacking,
• possible ways to test tissue from a deceased donor,
• practical issues like how samples would be collected, when testing would happen, quality control, and biosafety,
• whether pilot projects or larger implementation studies would be feasible, including at hospitals, tissue banks, organ procurement organizations, and offices of medical examiners,
• whether testing could be done across a range of populations, including high-risk and underserved communities,
• ways federal agencies could coordinate to validate, review, and implement such a test, and
• scientific, operational, or regulatory obstacles that might prevent development or use of the test.

Report to Congress

Within 3 years after the bill becomes law, HHS would have to submit a report to Congress describing the study’s findings and conclusions. The report would also need to recommend whether and how a TB test for cadaver tissue should be developed and used, including any needed congressional or regulatory changes.

Funding

The bill does not create a new dedicated funding stream. Instead, it says HHS may use appropriated amounts available for its work from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, subject to available funding.

Relevant Companies

None found