Sputum Culture Result Not Given Over Phone---Bad News Coming???

[MabuhayJimmy 3]

My fiancee had negative sputum smears at St Luke's Clinic, May 25 - 27.

TODAY, 8 weeks and 1-day later, she got a call from the St Luke's Clinic. She was told her sputum culture results are ready, and to come to the clinic.

She asked them what the result was.

They replied they are "not allowed to tell, especially over the phone, the doctor will inform you".

There was no further instruction such as bring your letter or your passport.

She cannot get there until Monday.

I think this is a BAD sign. I am very worried.

Does anyone have experience with this, or know if this likely means they want to tell her in person she has tested positive for TB?

Edited July 24, 2009 by MabuhayJimmy

[Chris_Жанна 11]

My fiancee had negative sputum smears at St Luke's Clinic, May 25 - 27.

TODAY, 8 weeks and 1-day later, she got a call from the St Luke's Clinic. She was told her sputum culture results are ready, and to come to the clinic.

She asked them what the result was.

They replied they are "not allowed to tell, especially over the phone, the doctor will inform you".

There was no further instruction such as bring your letter or your passport.

She cannot get there until Monday.

I think this is a BAD sign. I am very worried.

Does anyone have experience with this, or know if this likely means they want to tell her in person she has tested positive for TB?

Being a health care professional myself I can tell you that giving out any medical information over the phone is not a common practice. In fact, I do not know any clinicians that tell their patients or clients personal medical details via phone.

The reason being, you never can truly never know who you are talking to on the other end of the phone. Disclosing personal medical information via phone is unethical and if disclosed to the another person other then the patient/ client, can be in direct violation of HIPAA laws (patients right to medical privacy).

I cannot speculate into whether or not the diagnosis is unfavorable to you or not. But can tell you, I have worked under a few different doctors and the policy is to always have the patient come in for the results positive or negative.

Hope this eases your mind.

[GregwedsAngel 0]

Jimmy, I am a medical doctor practicing here in Cebu City, Philippines. I would advise you not to speculate on anything right now although I would know that this is hard to do. Whether positive or otherwise, it is against medical ethics to discuss medical concerns over the phone unless in materially improbable circumstances. Your fiancee need to go to Manila immediately. Where is she from, if I may ask?

Just a side bit: Undergoing an 8 week sputum test means that her chest x-ray was not clear. That means, there is scarring. The sputum testing is only a way to find out if in her respiratory cavity, there are bacteria present that are multiplying within her lungs. They are usually fought off the body. Everyone of us are chronically susceptible to get it. In any part of the world. By the way, some show no symptoms at all over a number of years because these bacteria remain "inactive". Hence the reason for sputum testing. To answer the question, do these bacteria develop or bring TB and if these bacteria are antibiotic resistant.

[MabuhayJimmy 3]

My fiancee had negative sputum smears at St Luke's Clinic, May 25 - 27.

TODAY, 8 weeks and 1-day later, she got a call from the St Luke's Clinic. She was told her sputum culture results are ready, and to come to the clinic.

She asked them what the result was.

They replied they are "not allowed to tell, especially over the phone, the doctor will inform you".

There was no further instruction such as bring your letter or your passport.

She cannot get there until Monday.

I think this is a BAD sign. I am very worried.

Does anyone have experience with this, or know if this likely means they want to tell her in person she has tested positive for TB?

Being a health care professional myself I can tell you that giving out any medical information over the phone is not a common practice. In fact, I do not know any clinicians that tell their patients or clients personal medical details via phone.

The reason being, you never can truly never know who you are talking to on the other end of the phone. Disclosing personal medical information via phone is unethical and if disclosed to the another person other then the patient/ client, can be in direct violation of HIPAA laws (patients right to medical privacy).

I cannot speculate into whether or not the diagnosis is unfavorable to you or not. But can tell you, I have worked under a few different doctors and the policy is to always have the patient come in for the results positive or negative.

Hope this eases your mind.

Thank you for the reply, it does ease my mind somewhat. Honestly though I am caught between numbness and feeling weak---I havent seen her since Febraury and we were so hoping to get married in November here in the US.

[MabuhayJimmy 3]

Jimmy, I am a medical doctor practicing here in Cebu City, Philippines. I would advise you not to speculate on anything right now although I would know that this is hard to do. Whether positive or otherwise, it is against medical ethics to discuss medical concerns over the phone unless in materially improbable circumstances. Your fiancee need to go to Manila immediately. Where is she from, if I may ask?

Just a side bit: Undergoing an 8 week sputum test means that her chest x-ray was not clear. That means, there is scarring. The sputum testing is only a way to find out if in her respiratory cavity, there are bacteria present that are multiplying within her lungs. They are usually fought off the body. Everyone of us are chronically susceptible to get it. In any part of the world. By the way, some show no symptoms at all over a number of years because these bacteria remain "inactive". Hence the reason for sputum testing. To answer the question, do these bacteria develop or bring TB and if these bacteria are antibiotic resistant.

Thank you for your reply doctor.

She did have a chest x-ray that was not clear, both in May 2009, and in November 2008. Her sputum smears were negative both times. I had her tested last November with a sputum, but no culture. In November the smears were negative, and the doc diagnosed her with "pneumonitis". Neither of us were aware of the culture part of the treting, we just trusted the doc at the local clinic she went to. He said it was "environmental" and there was no treatment they could administer.

After the St Luke's Clinic X-Ray in May 2009, she had to wait 3 weeks for the St Luke's Clinic sputum test and culture appointment. During that waiting period I sent her to a Pulmonary doc at St Luke's Hospital, no tests, just an examination, and he reviewed the November 2008 X-Ray. He was certain it was TB. He couldnt beleive the other doctor didnt perform the culture, and added she could have been cured by now.

Finally, when she took the last sputum in May 2009, the St Luke's Clinic doc said "it's 50-50 you have TB".

So you see we've had the whole spectrum of opinions. After 7 weeks and no call from St Luke's Clinic I was beginning to feel we'd dodged the bullet.

What would be so discouraging would be if it's positive we've "lost" 2 months she could have been in treatment. And it begs the question why it took so long to diagnose? Unless they were trying to detemine which drugs will best treat it? I know I shouldnt speculate, and it's really hard not too.

She is currently in Bulcan (Metro Manila), and will go see the St Luke's Clinic Doc on Monday. As luck would have have it she is taking an IT certification test today, so she couldnd go to Manila.

Again, thanks for your insights.

[MabuhayJimmy 3]

Additional question:

Has anyone or anyone's fiancee received a call from St Luke's Clinic telling them to "come talk to the doctor to get your sputum culture test results", and "passed" the medical?

I'd like to hear from both "yes" and "no" experiences, and also how long it took to get the call from the clinic.

Thanks.

[adiiann 163]

I am not sure what does the phone reply means. I went through sputum culture too, and then few days before the date I was told to call them for sputum culture result, my fiancé called them. He was told that I should go back to SLEC for vaccination and bring my passport. They didn't exactly told him that my sputum culture was negative but when they said I will have vaccination, then we already assumed that my result is negative because they don't give vaccination unless you are cleared.

But hoping for you guys that the result favors you. Keep prayin'!

[MabuhayJimmy 3]

I am not sure what does the phone reply means. I went through sputum culture too, and then few days before the date I was told to call them for sputum culture result, my fiancé called them. He was told that I should go back to SLEC for vaccination and bring my passport. They didn't exactly told him that my sputum culture was negative but when they said I will have vaccination, then we already assumed that my result is negative because they don't give vaccination unless you are cleared.

But hoping for you guys that the result favors you. Keep prayin'!

Thank you adiiann, in our case they did not mention vaccinations, the letter or her passport.

And THEY called her a few days before she was told the result would be ready. For those reasons, I am worried.

Did you meet with doctor to get your result?

[liraC 2]

But hoping for you guys that the result favors you. Keep prayin'!

Thank you adiiann, in our case they did not mention vaccinations, the letter or her passport.

And THEY called her a few days before she was told the result would be ready. For those reasons, I am worried.

Did you meet with doctor to get your result?

I went through sputum test too,i called them 2 days before the date they gave me to call them..They told me that i can report to the clinic from mon-fri and i asked them the result and they said they are not allowed to say anything and the result was negative..I hope the result of your fiancee is negative,your in my prayer...

[dutchmatt 1]

In my experience, no news is good news. Good luck - hope it goes ok

[GregwedsAngel 0]

Jimmy, I am a medical doctor practicing here in Cebu City, Philippines. I would advise you not to speculate on anything right now although I would know that this is hard to do. Whether positive or otherwise, it is against medical ethics to discuss medical concerns over the phone unless in materially improbable circumstances. Your fiancee need to go to Manila immediately. Where is she from, if I may ask?

Just a side bit: Undergoing an 8 week sputum test means that her chest x-ray was not clear. That means, there is scarring. The sputum testing is only a way to find out if in her respiratory cavity, there are bacteria present that are multiplying within her lungs. They are usually fought off the body. Everyone of us are chronically susceptible to get it. In any part of the world. By the way, some show no symptoms at all over a number of years because these bacteria remain "inactive". Hence the reason for sputum testing. To answer the question, do these bacteria develop or bring TB and if these bacteria are antibiotic resistant.

Thank you for your reply doctor.

She did have a chest x-ray that was not clear, both in May 2009, and in November 2008. Her sputum smears were negative both times. I had her tested last November with a sputum, but no culture. In November the smears were negative, and the doc diagnosed her with "pneumonitis". Neither of us were aware of the culture part of the treting, we just trusted the doc at the local clinic she went to. He said it was "environmental" and there was no treatment they could administer.

After the St Luke's Clinic X-Ray in May 2009, she had to wait 3 weeks for the St Luke's Clinic sputum test and culture appointment. During that waiting period I sent her to a Pulmonary doc at St Luke's Hospital, no tests, just an examination, and he reviewed the November 2008 X-Ray. He was certain it was TB. He couldnt beleive the other doctor didnt perform the culture, and added she could have been cured by now.

Finally, when she took the last sputum in May 2009, the St Luke's Clinic doc said "it's 50-50 you have TB".

So you see we've had the whole spectrum of opinions. After 7 weeks and no call from St Luke's Clinic I was beginning to feel we'd dodged the bullet.

What would be so discouraging would be if it's positive we've "lost" 2 months she could have been in treatment. And it begs the question why it took so long to diagnose? Unless they were trying to detemine which drugs will best treat it? I know I shouldnt speculate, and it's really hard not too.

She is currently in Bulcan (Metro Manila), and will go see the St Luke's Clinic Doc on Monday. As luck would have have it she is taking an IT certification test today, so she couldnd go to Manila.

Again, thanks for your insights.

Jimmy! As my line of work dictates, may I ask what medications were she given at the moment of diagnosis at St. Luke's? If you say none, I am going to be very angry at the fact that she was not given an immediate dose of anti-bacterial isoniazid and ethambutol for 2 weeks. I know I am giving you a cause of concern now but I would like to know more about your wife's case. Please reply soonest. Maybe I can help.

Edited July 25, 2009 by GregwedsAngel

[MabuhayJimmy 3]

Jimmy, I am a medical doctor practicing here in Cebu City, Philippines. I would advise you not to speculate on anything right now although I would know that this is hard to do. Whether positive or otherwise, it is against medical ethics to discuss medical concerns over the phone unless in materially improbable circumstances. Your fiancee need to go to Manila immediately. Where is she from, if I may ask?

Just a side bit: Undergoing an 8 week sputum test means that her chest x-ray was not clear. That means, there is scarring. The sputum testing is only a way to find out if in her respiratory cavity, there are bacteria present that are multiplying within her lungs. They are usually fought off the body. Everyone of us are chronically susceptible to get it. In any part of the world. By the way, some show no symptoms at all over a number of years because these bacteria remain "inactive". Hence the reason for sputum testing. To answer the question, do these bacteria develop or bring TB and if these bacteria are antibiotic resistant.

Thank you for your reply doctor.

She did have a chest x-ray that was not clear, both in May 2009, and in November 2008. Her sputum smears were negative both times. I had her tested last November with a sputum, but no culture. In November the smears were negative, and the doc diagnosed her with "pneumonitis". Neither of us were aware of the culture part of the treting, we just trusted the doc at the local clinic she went to. He said it was "environmental" and there was no treatment they could administer.

After the St Luke's Clinic X-Ray in May 2009, she had to wait 3 weeks for the St Luke's Clinic sputum test and culture appointment. During that waiting period I sent her to a Pulmonary doc at St Luke's Hospital, no tests, just an examination, and he reviewed the November 2008 X-Ray. He was certain it was TB. He couldnt beleive the other doctor didnt perform the culture, and added she could have been cured by now.

Finally, when she took the last sputum in May 2009, the St Luke's Clinic doc said "it's 50-50 you have TB".

So you see we've had the whole spectrum of opinions. After 7 weeks and no call from St Luke's Clinic I was beginning to feel we'd dodged the bullet.

What would be so discouraging would be if it's positive we've "lost" 2 months she could have been in treatment. And it begs the question why it took so long to diagnose? Unless they were trying to detemine which drugs will best treat it? I know I shouldnt speculate, and it's really hard not too.

She is currently in Bulcan (Metro Manila), and will go see the St Luke's Clinic Doc on Monday. As luck would have have it she is taking an IT certification test today, so she couldnd go to Manila.

Again, thanks for your insights.

Jimmy! As my line of work dictates, may I ask what medications were she given at the moment of diagnosis at St. Luke's? If you say none, I am going to be very angry at the fact that she was not given an immediate dose of anti-bacterial isoniazid and ethambutol for 2 weeks. I know I am giving you a cause of concern now but I would like to know more about your wife's case. Please reply soonest. Maybe I can help.

The pulminary specialist at St Luke's Hospital (week of May 11th) didnt prescribe her anything. He just said go to the clinic at the end of May as instructed for your sputum smears and culture, and do whatever they tell you.

She WAS given a week's worth of antibiotics from the St Luke's Clinic (big pills, I'd have to see if she kept the name) after her 3 sputum smears were negative (May 28th). The antibiotic she took made her feel better after she completed it. She gets a dry cough off and on, it was present around that time.

By the way, since November 2008 I have noted the following pattern with her---when she is exposed to:

• actute emotional stress
• smoke
• gas or paint fumes
• heavy dust
• very hot humid weather
• significant lack of sleep

She can have trouble breathing, and may get chest pain. If it's not TB, I will certainly be able to get her treatment here in the San Diego Area, we have some very good pulminary docs here according to my physician.

I'll see if I can get the name of that antibiotic---she probably remembers, she said she could "taste" it all day.

Thanks again!

[MabuhayJimmy 3]

Jimmy, I am a medical doctor practicing here in Cebu City, Philippines. I would advise you not to speculate on anything right now although I would know that this is hard to do. Whether positive or otherwise, it is against medical ethics to discuss medical concerns over the phone unless in materially improbable circumstances. Your fiancee need to go to Manila immediately. Where is she from, if I may ask?

Just a side bit: Undergoing an 8 week sputum test means that her chest x-ray was not clear. That means, there is scarring. The sputum testing is only a way to find out if in her respiratory cavity, there are bacteria present that are multiplying within her lungs. They are usually fought off the body. Everyone of us are chronically susceptible to get it. In any part of the world. By the way, some show no symptoms at all over a number of years because these bacteria remain "inactive". Hence the reason for sputum testing. To answer the question, do these bacteria develop or bring TB and if these bacteria are antibiotic resistant.

Thank you for your reply doctor.

She did have a chest x-ray that was not clear, both in May 2009, and in November 2008. Her sputum smears were negative both times. I had her tested last November with a sputum, but no culture. In November the smears were negative, and the doc diagnosed her with "pneumonitis". Neither of us were aware of the culture part of the treting, we just trusted the doc at the local clinic she went to. He said it was "environmental" and there was no treatment they could administer.

After the St Luke's Clinic X-Ray in May 2009, she had to wait 3 weeks for the St Luke's Clinic sputum test and culture appointment. During that waiting period I sent her to a Pulmonary doc at St Luke's Hospital, no tests, just an examination, and he reviewed the November 2008 X-Ray. He was certain it was TB. He couldnt beleive the other doctor didnt perform the culture, and added she could have been cured by now.

Finally, when she took the last sputum in May 2009, the St Luke's Clinic doc said "it's 50-50 you have TB".

So you see we've had the whole spectrum of opinions. After 7 weeks and no call from St Luke's Clinic I was beginning to feel we'd dodged the bullet.

What would be so discouraging would be if it's positive we've "lost" 2 months she could have been in treatment. And it begs the question why it took so long to diagnose? Unless they were trying to detemine which drugs will best treat it? I know I shouldnt speculate, and it's really hard not too.

She is currently in Bulcan (Metro Manila), and will go see the St Luke's Clinic Doc on Monday. As luck would have have it she is taking an IT certification test today, so she couldnd go to Manila.

Again, thanks for your insights.

Jimmy! As my line of work dictates, may I ask what medications were she given at the moment of diagnosis at St. Luke's? If you say none, I am going to be very angry at the fact that she was not given an immediate dose of anti-bacterial isoniazid and ethambutol for 2 weeks. I know I am giving you a cause of concern now but I would like to know more about your wife's case. Please reply soonest. Maybe I can help.

It was Clarithromycin, twice daily for 7 days.

Edited July 25, 2009 by MabuhayJimmy

[GregwedsAngel 0]

That's for chronic pneumonia. I am very concerned of her acute emotional stress. That in itself lowers resistance to tuberculi bacteria. She should have been given isoniazid and ethambutol 8 weeks straight after that! That's my opinion though (which lacks the diagnostic evidence that I should see). I am only basing this on the fact that 2 of her X-ray results showed consistent scarring.

Tell her... TO DO THIS IMMEDIATELY...

NO COLD drinks, air, NON WHATSOEVER!!!!

NO SMOKING, NO AIR-CONDITIONING that makes her chilled. If she has to go to a place air conditioned she must keep herself warm.

Keep away from people. Crowd causes stress. Stress causes respiratory risks.

SHE MUST SLEEP AT LEAST 10 hours at night.

SHE MUST EAT even if she does not want to.

SHE MUST TAKE B complex vitamins to activate/enhance her nervous system and thereby improving immune centers in her brain.

No carrying heavy weights of any kind.

When she gets to San Diego, bring her to UCI Med. Orange County, see James Williams. He's good.

[MabuhayJimmy 3]

That's for chronic pneumonia. I am very concerned of her acute emotional stress. That in itself lowers resistance to tuberculi bacteria. She should have been given isoniazid and ethambutol 8 weeks straight after that! That's my opinion though (which lacks the diagnostic evidence that I should see). I am only basing this on the fact that 2 of her X-ray results showed consistent scarring.

Tell her... TO DO THIS IMMEDIATELY...

NO COLD drinks, air, NON WHATSOEVER!!!!

NO SMOKING, NO AIR-CONDITIONING that makes her chilled. If she has to go to a place air conditioned she must keep herself warm.

Keep away from people. Crowd causes stress. Stress causes respiratory risks.

SHE MUST SLEEP AT LEAST 10 hours at night.

SHE MUST EAT even if she does not want to.

SHE MUST TAKE B complex vitamins to activate/enhance her nervous system and thereby improving immune centers in her brain.

No carrying heavy weights of any kind.

When she gets to San Diego, bring her to UCI Med. Orange County, see James Williams. He's good.

Thank you doctor, I gave her your instructions last night!