TB skin test

[Nao 0]

Hello friends.

I thought I would share my TB skin test experience here.

If you have had BCG (Vaccination against TB) in your life, I want to share this information especially with you.

So, I have had BCG twice in my life; once when I was a baby and once when I entered middle school. So, the TB skin test came out positive on me. Well, I always had positive on TST, so no worries. if you had BCG, the result may comes out positive. X-ray can prove whether you are infected by or free from TB.

Then, I went to take X-ray. The report says that there is no sign of TB infection. I am free of TB.

But, here is what sounds very odd...

The doctor told me that even the X-ray shows that I am not infected by TB and I have records of receiving BCG twice (I even have scars from them), if the TST comes out positive, you have to take antibiotics for six months....Mmmm. I have never heard of that. What is the point of taking X-ray and X-ray report, then? I always had positive on TST even when I was in the U.S. as a student. But, after taking X-ray and proving that I am free of TB, I was let go. I guess thr procedure changed???

I was not surprised to hear that though because this has happened to some of my friends who had BCG and applied to GC. One of them wereeven told that she needs to take 9 months of antibiotics after finding out that her X-ray shows that she is free of TB. She also had a record of having BCG as a kid.

Anyway, according to my CS, the doctors in the U.S. do not believe in BCG. That was the best and the only answer that came out of her mouth. Mmmmm. Alright... I cannot change what all the doctors in the U.S. believe in. lol So, I let my CS take my blood sample to see whether my liver can stand the medication or not. She told me that I can go to health center and have further examination. But, I was like.... What is the point of spending more money and time to prove what the doctors do not believe in?

Anyway, so my CS said that she will put Class B TB latent and will write that I have started on medication on I-693 though the X-ray report says that I am free of TB infection. Oh well. As long as I can get that envelope, it will be all good. As my friend did, the doctor can prescribe the medication, but I won't take it because they do not even check it. My friend got GC without a problem. They did not even ask her about it at the interview. lol If your CS signs that you have Class A TB disease, then you must complete them as the new requirements state. But, with BCG, you are not gonna get Class A classification. lol

Well, so I thought I would share my experience with you since there may be more people experiencing the similar situation as TB skin test is mandatory now and some countries routinely offer or require BCG vacciation.

Thanks

Nao

[raphandarrin 0]

same happened to me, I caught myself about to kill the doctor!LOL She just wouldn't put on her mind that with the BCG I would always test positive, no matter what, then she asks me what medical qualification I have to say that, BUMMER, no qualification but obviously know a bit more about tuberculosis than her, then she prescribed me the antibiotics and I said whatever, crazy lady LOL came home, sent my I-693 and it's so far so good, no RFEs or anything, she even said that they have no records of how bad the TB antibiotics can be for a future baby!!!!Whaaaat?No way I would take a medicine that could harm my baby(even though I'm not pregnant or planning too right now, it stays in your system for a long time and can possibly harm babies you have in the future), how can they prescribe a really strong medicine like that just for the sake of...Sake of nothing, I think those doctors lost some of their head screws from dealing with sick people all the time

Edited September 16, 2008 by raphandarrin

[Nao 0]

same happened to me, I caught myself about to kill the doctor!LOL She just wouldn't put on her mind that with the BCG I would always test positive, no matter what, then she asks me what medical qualification I have to say that, BUMMER, no qualification but obviously know a bit more about tuberculosis than her, then she prescribed me the antibiotics and I said whatever, crazy lady LOL came home, sent my I-693 and it's so far so good, no RFEs or anything, she even said that they have no records of how bad the TB antibiotics can be for a future baby!!!!Whaaaat?No way I would take a medicine that could harm my baby(even though I'm not pregnant or planning too right now, it stays in your system for a long time and can possibly harm babies you have in the future), how can they prescribe a really strong medicine like that just for the sake of...Sake of nothing, I think those doctors lost some of their head screws from dealing with sick people all the time

Hello raphandarrin.

I think the same thing has happened or will happen to many more people since now TST is mandatory.

Yea, the CS can prescribe the antibiotics, but I just won't take them. lol Yea, taking antibiotics can actually kill good bacterias in our system, so can actually harm our body.

Oh, by the way, were you told to come in to a lab once a month to check up on your liver? My friend told me that she was told to come in to a lab to check up whether her liver was ok or not? Well, she went twice and quite going. lol But, she got GC without a problem.

Thanks

Nao

[raphandarrin 0]

It's good that you opened this thread to warn everyone, I had completely forgotten about it til you brought it up...Because of all this TB , sending my papers got delayed for over a month.But there is a plus, my first x-ray had some kind of problem with it, the person did it wrong, so I needed 2 more X-rays and a blood test, it was loads of money!Then the doctor told me that I didn't have anything but still needed the antibiotics, WTH?!?!?!

She asked for a blood exam(another one) before I started and I would need to draw my blood every 2 months to make sure my liver was handling it alright, plus she prescribed me all kinds of vitamins and supplements, I guess they only do that for the money they get from the pharmaceutical businesses, just a guess...I never bought the medicines or went back for the exams, she can take the antibiotics herself if she wants, I'm out lol

Glad to hear I wasn't the only "rebel" that ignored medical instructions hahaha

Good luck with your process!

Rapha

[Nao 0]

It's good that you opened this thread to warn everyone, I had completely forgotten about it til you brought it up...Because of all this TB , sending my papers got delayed for over a month.But there is a plus, my first x-ray had some kind of problem with it, the person did it wrong, so I needed 2 more X-rays and a blood test, it was loads of money!Then the doctor told me that I didn't have anything but still needed the antibiotics, WTH?!?!?!

She asked for a blood exam(another one) before I started and I would need to draw my blood every 2 months to make sure my liver was handling it alright, plus she prescribed me all kinds of vitamins and supplements, I guess they only do that for the money they get from the pharmaceutical businesses, just a guess...I never bought the medicines or went back for the exams, she can take the antibiotics herself if she wants, I'm out lol

Glad to hear I wasn't the only "rebel" that ignored medical instructions hahaha

Good luck with your process!

Rapha

Yea. I thought there are gonna be more people who will be in the similar situation.

I was gonna send out paperwork today, but now I have to wait till Wednesday for my blood test for my lever comes up. Damit! Yea, it is costing me a fortune, too. It almost feels like there is a leak on my wallet.

I bet they will try to prescribe as many things as they can just to make money. Nowadays, we do not even know why a person becomes a doctor... I guess not to help people, but to make money. Too sad...

Same here. I won't buy the medicine nor go to exams cuz this is ridiculous. Yea! They can take antibiotics themselves. I think they are infected by a virus called money.

It is not just you who ignores the medical instructions. For Vaccination requirements, some people go to take only the first shot out of a series of shots and do not go back for the rest of the series. I was trying to do everything correctly as I was told. Then, after dealing with USCIS for K1, I do not even care anymore. It is not about how we can do things correctly, but about how smart we can be about it.

I wonder how stupider this process will get in like another 5 years.

Good Luck to you too.

I hope you hear a good news on your GC soon.

Thanks

Nao

[pechez 0]

Hi! its good that you open this topic. Atleast I know I'm not the only one in this situation. Well this is my story. I had my medical from philippines only last February. I arrived here only last April. So before filing the Aos., we decided to go to the nearest cs not planning to redo the medical because it was just recent. So he said., he won't sign the I-693 if I won't redo my medical., So to make the story short., I did the medical. I had my tst and it came out positive. He doesn't ask me to have another chest xray because my xray is just current and its normal and no signs of tb. So he just let me go to the health department and give me medications. In the health department., they let me redo the xray. And the xray result is again normal and no signs of tb. They gave me a blood test to check my liver. The cs just put class b tb latent and also put there I have started a medication.

I'm worried at first but because of your post., I'm now worry free. Thank you so much.

Actually I also have a bcg vaccination when I was a kid. And as a matter of fact., I don't have to redo my medical because I entered here in US as a K3 and my medical from Philippines is less than a year before filing the AOS but I submitted the whole medical report and the vaccination supplement in a sealed envelope. I hope I won't get an rfe for this., I submitted more than what is required., because of my innocence and stupidity agreeing with the doctor to perform another medical which cost me 600 dollars for the whole medical and xray and tst and blood test. I hope those who will read this and will just start filing their AOS., will learn from my mistakes., and beware of your CS.

[Nao 0]

Hi! its good that you open this topic. Atleast I know I'm not the only one in this situation. Well this is my story. I had my medical from philippines only last February. I arrived here only last April. So before filing the Aos., we decided to go to the nearest cs not planning to redo the medical because it was just recent. So he said., he won't sign the I-693 if I won't redo my medical., So to make the story short., I did the medical. I had my tst and it came out positive. He doesn't ask me to have another chest xray because my xray is just current and its normal and no signs of tb. So he just let me go to the health department and give me medications. In the health department., they let me redo the xray. And the xray result is again normal and no signs of tb. They gave me a blood test to check my liver. The cs just put class b tb latent and also put there I have started a medication.

I'm worried at first but because of your post., I'm now worry free. Thank you so much.

Actually I also have a bcg vaccination when I was a kid. And as a matter of fact., I don't have to redo my medical because I entered here in US as a K3 and my medical from Philippines is less than a year before filing the AOS but I submitted the whole medical report and the vaccination supplement in a sealed envelope. I hope I won't get an rfe for this., I submitted more than what is required., because of my innocence and stupidity agreeing with the doctor to perform another medical which cost me 600 dollars for the whole medical and xray and tst and blood test. I hope those who will read this and will just start filing their AOS., will learn from my mistakes., and beware of your CS.

Hello pechez.

You definitely are not the only one who are facing this situation.

Many of my friends from Japan are also facing this problem even though we have a formal vaccination record which shows that we had BCG as a kid and as a middle school students. Also, this can affect more people now because TST seems now to be mandatory for anyone adjusting status.

I am glad that we can share our horrible experience with CS and TST because when someone else face the same problem, they can feel it is not just them. As far as the classification is TB latent, we are good to go cuz the new TB requirements only ask for a person with Class A TB to complete the course of treatment before being approved of adjustment of status. So, we are good to go.

Thanks

Nao

[richo 0]

The most definitive confirmation for active tuberculosis is the SPUTUM CULTURE did he ask you to give samples of your sputum? But yes you're in the latent category.

Edited September 16, 2008 by richo

[KAT&Allie 0]

Hi Nao,

thanks for sharing your story. I'm nowhere near ready for the medical yet (still few months to go ) but your experience will definitely help when the time for it comes. Like you, I had 2 BCG during my childhood and have scars to prove so I assume my TB results will also come up positive. What I'm really looking forward to is what they'll suggest to "treat" me with as I'm allergic to penicillin and 95% of non-penicillin based antibiotics. Should be so much fun :-) watching them trying to find ways not to kill me by "healing" me.

So thanks for posting this. Most enlightening.

[Nao 0]

Hello richo.

Nope. I was not asked for sputum....

Though I was told that I can go for further examination at local health center, I did not want to do that because it will just be waste of time.

So, as it turned out for others with positive TST result, I will be classified as TB latent. Oh well....

But, as the new requirements state, only the people with "class A TB disease" must complete the treatment before USCIS approve their application for AOS. So, I am not too worried about it.

Thanks for your advice for having sputum thing done.

Hello KAT&Allie.

I have heard from my friend that many British people take BCG as well as Japanese. It always causes so much trouble when one culture believes in one thing and another does not. Yea. I have two scars on my arm from BCG, too. Some people who had only one BCG when they were babies may not have positive result to TST, but if you had it when you were older, I guess there are greater chance that your TST comes out positive. I had second shot when I was in middle school, which is only about 11 years ago, so I obviously got positive result.

Anyway, wow, so you are allergic to penicillin and 95%of non-penicillin based antibiotics. I bet CS will struggle a lot. lol

Just make sure that they do not make you pay so much just to find out the treatment that works for you......

Thanks

Nao

[Shannon and David 0]

Wow. This is THE most crazy thing that I've ever heard. Me being one of the people who had the same vaccine as a kid overseas in Germany.

Absolutely infuriating! And I'm a USC now! I love how they decide to change the rules...

[MrsD 0]

I had the same problem! I got 2 BCG vaccines, after birth and in school, and I had false positive result before. I warned doctor and nurse about it, but they told me the same thing - they know there will be reaction, but in US they don't accept BCG as an excuse. Of course, my mark was 13 mm and by the way I still have it on my arm 3 months after TB test!

I was lucky to only get reccomendation in mail to visit a clinic later, but they didn't force me to do that. I double checked the I-693 copy they gave me and saw that in the part where USCIS asks about treatment reccomendations, there was nothing written. It makes me frustrated that just because they have different rules, and they KNOW we are not sick, just think they can fill you up with antibiotics for months and treat you for something you don't even have! I was lucky with my doctor, but also that proves that yours forced you into something that is not mandatory.

[ez2007 1]

Thanks for sharing Nao. . .

I just hope I can find a kind-hearted CS (I know it's almost impossible to find one) who will charge me for TST and X-ray only and will not require me another full medical and medications. I had 2 BCG before. One when I was a baby and during the first grade and I am always positive every TST.

[mellowgeorge 1]

I just want to add my opinion to this discussion.

I work in a hospital as part of my F-1 OPT and their pre-employment screening (which were all free) tested me for immunity against measles, rubella, etc (titers) and did a blood test for a number of things.

There are two tests for TB: the PPD skin test which is now required by the USCIS and the blood quantiferon test. The PPD skin test is the least accurate because it will give you a chance of a positive result if you've had BCG vaccination. The quantiferon test can actually distinguish between the BCG vaccination and actual exposure to the TB bacteria.

The chest x-ray can show if you have active TB of the lungs (but TB can manifest in other areas of the body, surprisingly).

The antibiotic that they prescribe is isoniazid or INH. It is a daily medication taken for 9 months and is what is called a prophylactic if you don't have active TB. Basically, you're taking it for such a long period of time so that there's a good chance that it will kill any latent TB bacteria in your system. The TB bacteria, when latent, is very resistant to drugs, hence such a long and strong medication course.

At the end of the 9 months course, you're not even sure if you've gotten rid of all the TB bacteria in your system. There's no test that can say that the drug worked. All you can say is you tried (simply speaking). The vitamins and supplements are a necessary part of the INH treatment because the mode of action of the drug will affect your liver, mostly and disrupts the normal processes that require the supplement.

Some people take the drugs with no problem, some people can't handle the side-effects after a month.

[gazarama 0]

Okay, so that's why I tested positive on my TST skin test. I've had the test done twice. Both times came back positive. I thought it was because I have sensitive skin, but from what people have been saying in the above posts it is because we have all been vaccinated against TB with the BCG injection! I was given the shot in 1986 in High School.

However I haven't had any problems with the Doctor telling me I have to have any antibiotics or preventative. In fact, when I had to go have my Td and MMR shots, the clinic even added the BCG vaccination onto my shot record.

Edited October 1, 2008 by gazarama