quick question re sputum test

[wizardfitz 13]

a question from Maribel. how many, if any, underwent a sputum test. came up negative on the smear, but positive on the culture? we are just being paranoid here.

[chris-lei 1]

hi, i didnt do a sputum test but would just like to enlighten you with how the smear and sputum culture go.

AFB (Acid fast bacilli) smear: Tb bacilli stain red on smear after a series of dying (fasting) and heating. in here, your sputum will be smeared on a slide then dye/fast it. when it's done a med tech will look into it under a microscope. you see, bacilli will not be seen in the smear if you produced inadequate amount of sputum or if there's is low bacilli load (if the bacilli count is so small). sometimes it is done for 3 consecutive mornings.

Sputum culture: in here, you swab sputum into the culture media. this culture media is an agar with other chemicals it in to support growth of Tb bacilli. Tb bacilli, unlike other bacteria, are slow growing. it will take 2 weeks to grow them. in this procedure, even if the bacilli load is low, it will yield (bacilli will grow). when a colony grows, it will be smeared on a slide, dyed and again look under a microscope.

i know the wait for the culture will stretch your patience and faith. while waiting for the result, let us pray for God's intervention..may the test be negative. God bless you!

[fitzee21 0]

1 of every 3 people (33% of all people) worldwide has tuberculosis, but it is rarely active in that individual. In the Philippines, about 220 of every 100,000 Filipinos (0.22% of Filipinos) has active tuberculosis (data gathered from a study I read from 1999). So most likely, there will not be an issue and they will clear her in about 2 months.

My fiancee went through this too. Sorry to hear about the delay. Do what you can to be patient, pray, and always believe that your prayers have been answered. You will be together soon. God bless!

[wizardfitz 13]

thanks for the replies/ Maribel cam up negative on the smears. as she was treated for 6 months in 04 and has xrays every yr since. we were just curious if anyone has ever heard of some one testing negative on the smear, and then coming up positive once the 8 week culture came back

[Mysticjoyce 0]

hi, this procedure is really killing us softly while waiting. I have undergone the process too and still waiting for June 25th for me to call SLEC for the result. My friends who went to the process with me last April 21 to 23 and had a negative result with the 3 days test were called to report to St Lukes for the result during the 3 week and the other one was on the 6th week for the result. Unfortunately they were both possitve and are now in medication by St Lukes. I have not been called yet which I thank God i might be negative, but still praying that I really am. They will surely find out that your fiancee has the scars now for she has undergone treatment before. Always trust it to God he will reward us for waiting patiently. God Bless

[wizardfitz 13]

hi, this procedure is really killing us softly while waiting. I have undergone the process too and still waiting for June 25th for me to call SLEC for the result. My friends who went to the process with me last April 21 to 23 and had a negative result with the 3 days test were called to report to St Lukes for the result during the 3 week and the other one was on the 6th week for the result. Unfortunately they were both possitve and are now in medication by St Lukes. I have not been called yet which I thank God i might be negative, but still praying that I really am. They will surely find out that your fiancee has the scars now for she has undergone treatment before. Always trust it to God he will reward us for waiting patiently. God Bless

thank you. Maribel told them at the SLEC she had TB before. she had all the xraya and treatment yrs ago. she underwent to sputum test may 27-29 and we are awaiting the results as you are. so from what you said your friends were called in before the 8weeks and we positive? so then if you don't hear by 8weeks the results will be negative?>

[joe951 0]

a question from Maribel. how many, if any, underwent a sputum test. came up negative on the smear, but positive on the culture? we are just being paranoid here.

hi do you have ym we can talk there about sputum if you

want thats my problem also my sputum last may 21,22 23, and i

can share my idea about this ....my ym is neneth1225@yahoo.com

see you there...neneth

[joe951 0]

a question from Maribel. how many, if any, underwent a sputum test. came up negative on the smear, but positive on the culture? we are just being paranoid here.

hi do you have ym we can talk there about sputum if you

want thats my problem also my sputum last may 21,22 23, and i

can share my idea about this ....my ym is neneth1225@yahoo.com

see you there...neneth

[BranAllecx 0]

Hi I see that you're still waiting for the sputum result. Well you should hope that you will get a call after 8 weeks or so..that surely means her's negative. But considering that she had treatment before which I pressumed she's completely cured, has been very cautious and keeping herself heathly then she should be good to go. My prayers for you both.

[wizardfitz 13]

Hi I see that you're still waiting for the sputum result. Well you should hope that you will get a call after 8 weeks or so..that surely means her's negative. But considering that she had treatment before which I pressumed she's completely cured, has been very cautious and keeping herself heathly then she should be good to go. My prayers for you both.

thank you for the prayes. yes she was treated and is fully cured, and has xrays and doctors notes. so we are waititng out this last week, they told her to call on the 29th so it wiill actually be lamost 9weeks. but aftre that it should move quickly. our documents have been verified and are sitting at the USEM, per grace and mr richard. so hopefully they havent been misplaced, lol

[Mia2009 0]

I went through my first day today and brought my old films + medical certificate since I also had previous PTB case. The physician in St. Luke requested more information so I have to go back to my pulmonologist in Makati. She told me to get the additional medical certificate that should indicate the medicines I took, dosage, and the duration. I will need to bring it when I come back for my x-ray results.

I am still not sure if they will require me to go through sputum test but after what i've read through the post here, it looks like I will have to go through it too. A couple of questions to you and to others who may have went through the same thing

1. If you had previous PTB case and you have med cert that says you have been cured, would they still require you to do sputum test?

2. If you go through sputum test and all 3 tests are negative, do they still require a culture test?

Thanks so much as another 2 months will badly hit our schedule and I am really hoping to fly to the CA on December during my boyfriend's winter school break >>> when we plan to get married.

Regards,

LMY

[Merydith 0]

My Papa had a complete physical check-up before he went to St. Lukes. He was supposed to have his interview on the second week of September but unfortunately his sputum test was scheduled a day after his interview schedule at the embassy. The first day he went in he was told to come back the next day for his injections. We were all happy because we all thought that he was already ok. It seems like every time he goes back there is always a surprise. Then he was told to come back last Monday for the result and then another surprise was about the culture that will take 2 months. He was negative by the way and so as the result of his complete physical test which they only looked at and then was put aside.

I can't believe how hard is it to go through this especially those who are so far away from the ones they loved. My husband and I are already so annoyed with this but hey what can we do?

Good Luck guys!

Merydith

[nowhereman 1]

I share your pain; today (Sep 26th) is week 5 for us. My fiancee was negative on the smear as well, but a suspicious spot showed up on her chest X-ray. The wait is awful & this isn't our first delay, so it's particularly awful.

[jamster 31]

Hi,

When do they require the sputum test? Do they only require it for those who have scars on xray? Or is it cumpulsory now? What about the skin test?

[nowhereman 1]

Hi,

When do they require the sputum test? Do they only require it for those who have scars on xray? Or is it cumpulsory now? What about the skin test?

I imagine everyone does the skin test. As for the sputum it's only done if there is some sort of abnormality. The results take 2 months so if everyone did it it would make the long (K1/K3) process even longer for everyone.