Sputum culture - prior to SLEM medical exam

[AmyStan 0]

Hi everyone. Based on a recent x-ray (not part of the visa process), it's likely that my fiancee will require a sputum culture when she does do the medical portion for the K1. That is per her doctor who read the x-ray. We are wondering if she can go to St Lukes now to request the culture be done so the results should return earlier and not slow us down for her interview. We understand the sputum culture takes 8 weeks.

Has anyone done this before and, if so, was there a problem inputting the results into the medical examination if the rest of the examination was done at a different time?

We are hoping to get our NOA2 by the end of this month or early next month. Then the regular medical examination done the middle of August, if nothing else slows us down. We want to be proactive and not wait since it appears this will be required anyway. She will go to St Lukes to request the test (after seeing a pulmonologist there), so the results would be from their own lab.

Any help, advice, etc would be appreciated!

[PhiLandShiR 18]

I would suggest calling St. Lukes and asking them if this was possible.

Good Luck...

-P

Hi everyone. Based on a recent x-ray (not part of the visa process), it's likely that my fiancee will require a sputum culture when she does do the medical portion for the K1. That is per her doctor who read the x-ray. We are wondering if she can go to St Lukes now to request the culture be done so the results should return earlier and not slow us down for her interview. We understand the sputum culture takes 8 weeks.

Has anyone done this before and, if so, was there a problem inputting the results into the medical examination if the rest of the examination was done at a different time?

We are hoping to get our NOA2 by the end of this month or early next month. Then the regular medical examination done the middle of August, if nothing else slows us down. We want to be proactive and not wait since it appears this will be required anyway. She will go to St Lukes to request the test (after seeing a pulmonologist there), so the results would be from their own lab.

Any help, advice, etc would be appreciated!

[AmyStan 0]

I would suggest calling St. Lukes and asking them if this was possible.

Good Luck...

-P

She called yesterday and only managed to speak to a receptionist who said she can make an appointment today, but had no information as to whether this would work. She will call again in the morning there (5-6 hours from now) and make the appointment, then ask the pulmonoligist, unless someone here has had experience and knows that it isn't possible.

Thanks for your response!

[ManilaIdaho 2]

your fiancee should have the full medical examinations at st.luke's,she dont have to have an appointment,it's a first come first served basis.even if she had her xray outside,it wont be honored by SLMEC,she will be asked to have another xray again once she have her medical and the result will be based upon the result that'll be released from the medical clinic itself.

good luck and hope you'll get your NOA2 soon

[AmyStan 0]

your fiancee should have the full medical examinations at st.luke's,she dont have to have an appointment,it's a first come first served basis.even if she had her xray outside,it wont be honored by SLMEC,she will be asked to have another xray again once she have her medical and the result will be based upon the result that'll be released from the medical clinic itself.

good luck and hope you'll get your NOA2 soon

So she doesn't need the NOA2 to take the medical exam? How will SLMEC know how to reference the results when sending to the embassy? Also, is this statement in the Manila Embassy guide not accurate?

"If the medical exam is taken anytime too far beyond a month before the visa interview, there is a risk that the results could be invalid, which means the beneficiary will have to take another medical exam before the visa can be approved."

If she gets it done more than a month before the interview, won't it cause problems? Then again, if she has to take the sputum culture, it will be more than a month before anyway, since that takes 8 weeks. Maybe?

Thanks for your response!

[pinoy&pinay 0]

I would suggest calling St. Lukes and asking them if this was possible.

Good Luck...

-P

She called yesterday and only managed to speak to a receptionist who said she can make an appointment today, but had no information as to whether this would work. She will call again in the morning there (5-6 hours from now) and make the appointment, then ask the pulmonoligist, unless someone here has had experience and knows that it isn't possible.

Thanks for your response!

She should have a chek-up on one of the st. luke's doctors... (main hospital... not on the extension clinic where medical examination are conducted).... st lukes has alot of pulmonogist, everyday there is one specialist who is having his/her clinic. before i had my medical exam i was having coungh, fever and my throat was not in good condition... i went to a st. luke's doctor and he asked me to have an x-ray, cbc n urinalysis.. and prescribed medicine. during my medical when the physician was taking my health history i just told him everything (since my doctor told me im good for my medical exam). but i passed...

Goodluck n Godbless u.. I hope everything will be ok

[AmyStan 0]

She should have a chek-up on one of the st. luke's doctors... (main hospital... not on the extension clinic where medical examination are conducted).... st lukes has alot of pulmonogist, everyday there is one specialist who is having his/her clinic. before i had my medical exam i was having coungh, fever and my throat was not in good condition... i went to a st. luke's doctor and he asked me to have an x-ray, cbc n urinalysis.. and prescribed medicine. during my medical when the physician was taking my health history i just told him everything (since my doctor told me im good for my medical exam). but i passed...

Goodluck n Godbless u.. I hope everything will be ok

Thank you. God bless you and yours.

[sasha414 0]

i spoke with st lukes staff , she can go for her medical exams as soon as she has her case number, which means she has to wait for the NOA2. st lukes is on a walk in basis, no appointments. if she does her medical when she has her noa2, there will still be enough time to get thru the 2 month culture waiting till the interview.

[AmyStan 0]

i spoke with st lukes staff , she can go for her medical exams as soon as she has her case number, which means she has to wait for the NOA2. st lukes is on a walk in basis, no appointments. if she does her medical when she has her noa2, there will still be enough time to get thru the 2 month culture waiting till the interview.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do that. It was very thoughtful and proves to me once again that the filipino people are the kindest in the world. Take care and know that your assistance is greatly appreciated!

[GregwedsAngel 0]

i spoke with st lukes staff , she can go for her medical exams as soon as she has her case number, which means she has to wait for the NOA2. st lukes is on a walk in basis, no appointments. if she does her medical when she has her noa2, there will still be enough time to get thru the 2 month culture waiting till the interview.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do that. It was very thoughtful and proves to me once again that the filipino people are the kindest in the world. Take care and know that your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Hi Stan. I am a medical doctor. The doctor who ordered for and read her chest x-ray film has he given an immediately sputum culture testing to your wife? If he hasn't, I am going to get very angry. That is standard operating procedure and medication follows immediately after.

[chinese_mutt 11]

i spoke with st lukes staff , she can go for her medical exams as soon as she has her case number, which means she has to wait for the NOA2. st lukes is on a walk in basis, no appointments. if she does her medical when she has her noa2, there will still be enough time to get thru the 2 month culture waiting till the interview.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do that. It was very thoughtful and proves to me once again that the filipino people are the kindest in the world. Take care and know that your assistance is greatly appreciated!

Hi Stan. I am a medical doctor. The doctor who ordered for and read her chest x-ray film has he given an immediately sputum culture testing to your wife? If he hasn't, I am going to get very angry. That is standard operating procedure and medication follows immediately after.

Get another X-Ray and doctor.... then do sputum culture if needed. If treatment is required, do the treatment.

They ask questions such as if you have ever been treated of TB, etc. etc. or exposed to it. If you can go to St. Lukes Medical (not the extension clinic) for x-ray and consultation and if needed, treatment do so, so that you will have proper documentations. This is only based on what I read in the medical forms that the SLEC provided, the treatment is around 6 months ( i think). I certainly hope it will be negative and you won't have to worry about this.

Check with a good doctor now so you can start treatment if necessary.

Good luck, I really hope everything works out for you guys.