Positive TB test

[skywalkerjedi 1]

Hello!

My mom had her medical exam two weeks ago and St. Luke's required her to have sputum test. I've heard that when you're positive even though you'll get a negative sputum result, St. Luke's will still require you to do a six-month treatment for TB. Is this true? Hope someone could shed light on this. Thanks in advance!

[Casey_Ana 7]

Hi! She will only undergo medication if her sputum culture is positive.

Some have negative sputum result (initial) but within or on the 2 months culture, got a positive result. If found positive, your mom will receive a call from SLEC.

Just pray that all sputum results are clear/negative.

By the way, I am undergoing TB treatment at SLEC as my sputum results were positive.

Good luck to your mom!

[notusinganymore 31]

Hello!

My mom had her medical exam two weeks ago and St. Luke's required her to have sputum test. I've heard that when you're positive even though you'll get a negative sputum result, St. Luke's will still require you to do a six-month treatment for TB. Is this true? Hope someone could shed light on this. Thanks in advance!

How can you be positive and negative at the same time?

If she has positive results then she will go through the 6 month program.

If she is negative then she won't undergo the 6 month program.

There are some instances that if a family member living with her or she has been in contact everyday has TB then she will receive a 6 month prophylactic drug called Isoniazid. So far though I haven't heard anyone here in the forum having to go through that. It is either your result is positive or negative.

The reason she was called back is because her X-ray might have some "probable" TB and not positive. To determine positive TB they do sputum test (results released after 8-10 weeks) then if tested positive then and only then will medication start.

Hope this helps and also good luck to your mom.

[LucidDreams 1]

It's possible that she could be positive for a skin test, and negative for the sputum. That would suggest that she had TB before, but it's dormant and doesn't have an active infection.

[RonnieKris 26]

My opinion this is a scam that St. Lukes uses to extract more money. A friend of mine has a filipa fiance. She was positive, then had x-ray to prove she didn't have TB. They went to another hospital and she took another PPD and sputum test; both were negitive. St. Lukes would not even consider the other results.

Second X-ray for independent conformation was...negative. St. Lukes refused any secondary proof of no TB; My friend spent a lot of money to have proof she didn't have TB. She is now finishing up her six months of TB 'treatment'.

Sorry to say, but you might be delayed six months.

[apple21 953]

My opinion this is a scam that St. Lukes uses to extract more money. A friend of mine has a filipa fiance. She was positive, then had x-ray to prove she didn't have TB. They went to another hospital and she took another PPD and sputum test; both were negitive. St. Lukes would not even consider the other results.

Second X-ray for independent conformation was...negative. St. Lukes refused any secondary proof of no TB; My friend spent a lot of money to have proof she didn't have TB. She is now finishing up her six months of TB 'treatment'.

Sorry to say, but you might be delayed six months.

SLEC doesn't care about 3rd party hospital results because it can easily be manipulated. What they care about is their own findings because they are the only accredited medical facility in the Philippines by the Department of State.

[clairegie 265]

How soon after you did the medical were you informed that you need to do a sputum test? I finished my medical Oct. 30 but I have no clue if this means I'm in the clear.

[apple21 953]

How soon after you did the medical were you informed that you need to do a sputum test? I finished my medical Oct. 30 but I have no clue if this means I'm in the clear.

If you're already finished and received vaccines, then you're cleared.

Normally, they give the results on the 2nd day, so you'll know then if you're for sputum or immunization.

[RonnieKris 26]

SLEC doesn't care about 3rd party hospital results because it can easily be manipulated. What they care about is their own findings because they are the only accredited medical facility in the Philippines by the Department of State.

I'm aware, now. Just wanted to prevent others from making the same mistake my friend made. I think the testing by SLEC can be easily manipulated too.

[MangAntipolo 3]

My husband just started his DOT last Feb 4. He supposed to have his interview this coming Monday, Feb 10. When I heard the news from him that he'll have to undergo this treatment, it broke my heart into pieces as it's gonna a long delay. But on the brighter side atleast he'll be cured and that's more important. Anyway, my question is, do I have to contact USEmbassy in Manila or the NVC from time to time just to "keep the communication" with them. Cause what I know if a certain time had passed and they haven't heard anything from anyone about case chances are they'll cancel the case. Your reply is greatly appreciated.

[Casey_Ana 7]

My husband just started his DOT last Feb 4. He supposed to have his interview this coming Monday, Feb 10. When I heard the news from him that he'll have to undergo this treatment, it broke my heart into pieces as it's gonna a long delay. But on the brighter side atleast he'll be cured and that's more important. Anyway, my question is, do I have to contact USEmbassy in Manila or the NVC from time to time just to "keep the communication" with them. Cause what I know if a certain time had passed and they haven't heard anything from anyone about case chances are they'll cancel the case. Your reply is greatly appreciated.

SLEC will report your husband's case to USEM. If you want to make sure, you may contact or email USEM to confirm.

In my case, I emailed USEM and had their reply that SLEC reported my case on them and automatically extended my NOA2 until such time I finishes the medication.

[apple21 953]

My husband just started his DOT last Feb 4. He supposed to have his interview this coming Monday, Feb 10. When I heard the news from him that he'll have to undergo this treatment, it broke my heart into pieces as it's gonna a long delay. But on the brighter side atleast he'll be cured and that's more important. Anyway, my question is, do I have to contact USEmbassy in Manila or the NVC from time to time just to "keep the communication" with them. Cause what I know if a certain time had passed and they haven't heard anything from anyone about case chances are they'll cancel the case. Your reply is greatly appreciated.

They will not cancel your case just because the beneficiary had to do TB treatment. SLEC will inform USEM about it.

[yailukmuu 26]

My opinion this is a scam that St. Lukes uses to extract more money. A friend of mine has a filipa fiance. She was positive, then had x-ray to prove she didn't have TB. They went to another hospital and she took another PPD and sputum test; both were negitive. St. Lukes would not even consider the other results.

Second X-ray for independent conformation was...negative. St. Lukes refused any secondary proof of no TB; My friend spent a lot of money to have proof she didn't have TB. She is now finishing up her six months of TB 'treatment'.

Sorry to say, but you might be delayed six months.

Tuberculosis is a serious disease. In the Philippines the PPD (Purified Protein Derivative) which is a test where a small amount of liquid is injected just under the skin of the forearm to produce a “bleb.” Then after waiting the proper time (48-72) hours the test must be “read.” A reaction is not always conclusive especially in the Philippines because the BCG vaccination was commonly used (bacille Calmette-Guérin) on many children. Often if a person has had the BCG vaccination the bleb will indicate a false positive.

Use of the PPD skin test is just a small part of the examination to “clear” a person as negative.

It is indeed possible to be actively infected, and infective with TB and not have a trace within the sputum at all. TB can be an important cause of skin, lymph node, bowel and gynecological problems. In all these cases a sputum test may be negative because the disease is not active within the lungs or throat.

No, it’s not a scam, and yes, America takes it very seriously especially now that there are multi-drug resistant varieties that are very difficult to cure. MDR-TB is multi-drug resistant TB, it is difficult and expensive to cure. XDR-TB (Extensively drug-resistant TB is extremely difficult to cure. XDR is very rare in the US but much more common in other countries such as India, China, South Africa and other countries including RP (Republic of Philippines). The problem is—if a person has simple TB, and is not treated properly, the strain of mycobacteria tuberculosis can mutate—into a MDR strain. This is why so much effort is put into 1) discovering who has it and more importantly: 2) treating it to effect a cure.

TB is a very dangerous disease. I remember as a child playing in an abandoned, well it was bigger than most hospitals, in Illinois. It was a “Sanatorium,” A place for those with TB to literally go and die. With the advent of modern antibiotics such a place was no longer necessary and all those patients in this place, when the mix of antibiotics was found, were probably cured making the place obsolete.

I can take you to a graveyard way out in the forest here in New Hampshire, with many headstones from the early 1800’s. By what is written on the headstones quite a lot indicated death by TB (then known as consumption).

Though antibiotics have been remarkably successful in reducing TB, it is still one of the top ten causes of death in the world.

To see why it’s so difficult to properly screen someone read this forty page document:

http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/pdf/tuberculosis-ti-2009.pdf

Should you fear being MDR-TB, or XDR-TB? No. Should you fear being TB positive? I would, if I were in a Filipino’s position, it’s a scary thought. But consider—if positive, yes you must wait for treatment to cause a cure, but you will be cured. In the absence of the US testing protocols you could be spreading the disease to those who you loved.

“Any immigrant or refugee who has TB is not allowed to enter the United States until the disease has been treated correctly. CDC’s primary goal is to reduce the spread of disease in the United States, and research has shown that TB can be transmitted to others through actions as simple as coughing, sneezing, speaking, or singing.”

See: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/adoptees-tuberculosis-screening-faq.html

Edited February 12, 2014 by yailukmuu

[apple21 953]

I'm aware, now. Just wanted to prevent others from making the same mistake my friend made. I think the testing by SLEC can be easily manipulated too.

Your friend didn't make a mistake. She/He just spent unnecessarily on that 3rd party check-up/xray. If SLEC scams people, then majority of all visa chasers from the Philippines should have been subjected for sputum.

Edited February 12, 2014 by apple21

[RonnieKris 26]

You're still missing the point. Nowhere did I mention TB was not serious, my point was, IMHO St. Luke's is scamming or could be scamming the US declaring somone has TB that does not -possibly for profit. "No, its not a scam". How do you know? You don't, and to make that statement is irresponsible.

Are you suggesting other hospitals in the metro Manila area are incapable of screening for TB? When only ONE medical facility is allowed to confirm a diagnosis of a "serious" disease then the whole process is ripe for corruption.

When independent, fully capable medical facilities can't confirm or deny a medical diagnosis given by a separate medical facility, the patient, the family and the US looses.

St. Luke's has had sole ownership of visa screening in the Philippines for far too long.

Tuberculosis is a serious disease. In the Philippines the PPD (Purified Protein Derivative) which is a test where a small amount of liquid is injected just under the skin of the forearm to produce a bleb. Then after waiting the proper time (48-72) hours the test must be read. A reaction is not always conclusive especially in the Philippines because the BCG vaccination was commonly used (bacille Calmette-Guérin) on many children. Often if a person has had the BCG vaccination the bleb will indicate a false positive.

Use of the PPD skin test is just a small part of the examination to clear a person as negative.

It is indeed possible to be actively infected, and infective with TB and not have a trace within the sputum at all. TB can be an important cause of skin, lymph node, bowel and gynecological problems. In all these cases a sputum test may be negative because the disease is not active within the lungs or throat.

No, its not a scam, and yes, America takes it very seriously especially now that there are multi-drug resistant varieties that are very difficult to cure. MDR-TB is multi-drug resistant TB, it is difficult and expensive to cure. XDR-TB (Extensively drug-resistant TB is extremely difficult to cure. XDR is very rare in the US but much more common in other countries such as India, China, South Africa and other countries including RP (Republic of Philippines). The problem isif a person has simple TB, and is not treated properly, the strain of mycobacteria tuberculosis can mutateinto a MDR strain. This is why so much effort is put into 1) discovering who has it and more importantly: 2) treating it to effect a cure.

TB is a very dangerous disease. I remember as a child playing in an abandoned, well it was bigger than most hospitals, in Illinois. It was a Sanatorium, A place for those with TB to literally go and die. With the advent of modern antibiotics such a place was no longer necessary and all those patients in this place, when the mix of antibiotics was found, were probably cured making the place obsolete.

I can take you to a graveyard way out in the forest here in New Hampshire, with many headstones from the early 1800s. By what is written on the headstones quite a lot indicated death by TB (then known as consumption).

Though antibiotics have been remarkably successful in reducing TB, it is still one of the top ten causes of death in the world.

To see why its so difficult to properly screen someone read this forty page document:

http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/pdf/tuberculosis-ti-2009.pdf

Should you fear being MDR-TB, or XDR-TB? No. Should you fear being TB positive? I would, if I were in a Filipinos position, its a scary thought. But considerif positive, yes you must wait for treatment to cause a cure, but you will be cured. In the absence of the US testing protocols you could be spreading the disease to those who you loved.

Any immigrant or refugee who has TB is not allowed to enter the United States until the disease has been treated correctly. CDCs primary goal is to reduce the spread of disease in the United States, and research has shown that TB can be transmitted to others through actions as simple as coughing, sneezing, speaking, or singing.

See: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/adoptees-tuberculosis-screening-faq.html