My son is Positive TB based on Mantoux/ skin test, what to do?

[Johann Yan 1]

Hi All,

We are Asylees, going to apply for greencard next week, AoS, i-485. We went for medical exam i693, but my son is suspected TB positive based on skin test, then X-ray, result in a day or two. Let say if he were TB positive, can we go ahead with the AoS, or should we wait until he's treated? or can me, wife and younger son apply first? Last question, what is his chance to be approved if he has TB?

Pls advise.

Many thx

Kenny

Edited August 25, 2012 by KennyMK

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Hi All,

We are Asylees, going to apply for greencard next week, AoS, i-485. We went for medical exam i693, but my son is suspected TB positive based on skin test, then X-ray, result in a day or two. Let say if he were TB positive, can we go ahead with the AoS, or should we wait until he's treated? or can me, wife and younger son apply first? Last question, what is his chance to be approved if he has TB?

Pls advise.

Many thx

Kenny

He needs to PASS the medical in order to be eligible to adjust status, and he can't pass the medical if he's TB positive. He'll likely have to submit a sputum test and start antibiotic treatment while he's waiting for the results from the sputum test (usually a couple of months). If the sputum test comes back negative then he can stop the treatment and continue with the AOS. If it comes back positive then he'll need to continue the treatment until he's cured of TB.

The rest of you can continue your AOS application while your son is undergoing TB testing and treatment. You don't have to wait for him.

People who have had the BCG vaccine often give a positive result to the Mantoux skin test. This is usually a FALSE positive test result. If your son has ever received the BCG vaccine, and his x-rays come back negative, then they'll usually approve his medical in spite of the false positive skin test.

People with prior exposure to TB also usually give a positive result to the Mantoux test, even though they often don't have an active TB infection. If the x-ray results are negative then they'll usually presume the positive skin test was a false alarm, and they'll approve the medical.

In either of the above cases, it's the civil surgeon's call. If they want to proceed with a sputum test and treatment then that's what he'll have to do.

TB is so common in some countries that the majority of the population have been exposed to it, and most of them would give positive skin tests. For this reason, panel physicians in many countries don't even bother with the skin test and just give everyone a chest x-ray. TB is far less common in the US, so civil surgeons still use the skin test to screen for TB.

[Johann Yan 1]

He needs to PASS the medical in order to be eligible to adjust status, and he can't pass the medical if he's TB positive. He'll likely have to submit a sputum test and start antibiotic treatment while he's waiting for the results from the sputum test (usually a couple of months). If the sputum test comes back negative then he can stop the treatment and continue with the AOS. If it comes back positive then he'll need to continue the treatment until he's cured of TB.

The rest of you can continue your AOS application while your son is undergoing TB testing and treatment. You don't have to wait for him.

People who have had the BCG vaccine often give a positive result to the Mantoux skin test. This is usually a FALSE positive test result. If your son has ever received the BCG vaccine, and his x-rays come back negative, then they'll usually approve his medical in spite of the false positive skin test.

People with prior exposure to TB also usually give a positive result to the Mantoux test, even though they often don't have an active TB infection. If the x-ray results are negative then they'll usually presume the positive skin test was a false alarm, and they'll approve the medical.

In either of the above cases, it's the civil surgeon's call. If they want to proceed with a sputum test and treatment then that's what he'll have to do.

TB is so common in some countries that the majority of the population have been exposed to it, and most of them would give positive skin tests. For this reason, panel physicians in many countries don't even bother with the skin test and just give everyone a chest x-ray. TB is far less common in the US, so civil surgeons still use the skin test to screen for TB.

Jim,

Thx for the informative reply, yes he did have BCG vaccine before from home country as it's very common in Asia. Fingers x on the Xray result.

[Johann Yan 1]

Chest X-ray came back, it was false positive skin test. So everything is OK.