A positive skin test for TB as a teenager

[closed-20101014 3]

I have multiple issues, I know I obsess about them but the fact remains I have multiple issues which could affect the visa and I need this sorted.

The scenario:

My sister went to school with an indian kid who one day came back from india after a visit with pretty much full blown TB. Cue mass panic, entire class hospitalised, checked over etc.

Some months, maybe a couple years later I have the skin test for TB and it tests positive for antibodies so I don't have the vaccine.

Some years later my sister has the test and they swear blind (my parents argue with me loads) she tested negative and had the vaccine but I don't know if I can believe them.

No clue where I had exposure if this was the case?

But the point is I had a positive skin test and I am wondering if this will affect my visa claim. I asked in another thread but nobody is really 100% as to whether or not I'll need to do anything else because of this.

Does anyone have experience of this?

[UKGirl123 24]

As far as I am aware, if you haven't had the vaccine they will require you to have it on the day of your medical. So I wouldn't worry.

They don't do a skin test but I think the chest xray is to see if you HAVE TB currently

[gooberlove 0]

No worries. As long as it is not active, you are fine.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

The reason they do the chest x-ray and not the skin test in the medical is because it is more reliable than the skin test. The skin test can not discriminate against those with TB and those with TBantibodies. The chest X-ray can.

So it is irrelevant what a skin test said at one point in your life. It matters what the chest x-ray says at the time of the medical

Good luck.

[closed-20101014 3]

But will I still have to "own up" to having had latent TB effectively hence never having had the vaccine?

[OBX 51]

But will I still have to "own up" to having had latent TB effectively hence never having had the vaccine?

It never came up in my medical, chest x-ray was clear and as canadian_wife posted that is the result they will go by. Good luck!

[pixie77 2]

I don't know where you're from but in my case and as I was informed TB tests come out positive in people from third world countries because usually we are vaccinated against certain type of diseases at a very young age. The bcg vaccine which I had when I was a baby was a factor in my positive tb skin test but my x-ray was clear. The doctor informed me that there was nothing to worry.

If you're test is positive, they will ask you to get an x-ray and when it's clear you dont have to worry.

Good luck and I hope your concerns will be sorted out soon.

[Atencio 43]

Shirorisu, Don't worry about it. A PPD is not an accurate test or a big deal. Many people who had BCG vaccine will show up positive. Nurses where I work convert to positive PPD's all the time. You can tell them you have had a positive PPD as a child. All they will do then is take a chest x-ray or possibly the blood test. If anything look suspicious on the chest x-ray then they will request sputum specimens. They may also ask you if you have any of the classic signs of TB: bloody sputum, night sweats.

The BCG vaccine is not commonly recommended in the U.S.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

Answer any questions honestly, but I was never asked about it and I doubt you will too. What happened in the past is irrelevant (in this case) and what matters is what is on the chest x-ray

Good luck

[Ellie-and-David 38]

I had the UK medical and no skin test was carried out. As someone has mentioned before, this is because the UK vaccinates teenagers and therefore, most who have received the BCG will show positive for TB according to a skin test. I knew at least 4 fellow school mates who didn't have the BCG because they already had anti-bodies.

A chest X-ray was used to determine that I was TB clear. The same will happen for you.