Sputum culture

[Benito123 1]

Hi VJers! I underwent sputum smear and culture and waiting for my culture result to be out on Christmas Day. However they advised me to call on January 6th (that is pretty long) I am on my seventh week culture. Can I call Slec for my result? And am I safe already for the 7th week culture? Any advice will gladly be appreciated

[ken1215 1]

Hi I just want to share my experience.. I also underwent sputum on october 19,20&21 and had my pulmo eval on oct 23 and thank God all came out negative.. my 8th week culture end date was last december 16 (wednesday) .. I tried calling slec since 7 weeks and 2 days but they said no results yet until finally, I called them 7 weeks and 6 days (december 15) at around 3pm, then the one i talked to said to me to bring my passport and receipt next week (dec 21). I have been checking available interview schedules at the embassy and i know that the only available dates for december is until dec 23, so I told slec at that day that I already have a schedule on dec 18, so the one i talked to, told me, to just come in on dec 17 and they'll try to expedite my medical results.. the minute i hear that, I booked the dec 18 schedule appointment on the embassy.. Thank God everything fall into place.. I got my result on the 17th and interview on the 18th and visa was approved.. now i'm just waiting for my visa to be delivered.. I'm not recommending you to do what I did because I'm not sure if your medical result can be released in an rush and be forwarded to the embassy on the same day.. I was worrying if my medical results can be forwarded that day because They release my xray cd and vaccination records at around 5pm and aside from that I know they have a sealed medical result that they forward to the embassy at around 2:30pm.. but when I went to the releasing counter at slec I just let them know that my interview is on the next day and if they could forward my result on my interview, and I'm glad everything turned out well.. Hope this helps ?

Edited December 19, 2015 by ken1215

[Benito123 1]

Congratulations Ken1215. That is also the reason why i wanted to call early so I can book my interview. I hope my sputum culture will turn out fine as I have not receiving any calls yet from slec. Do you think I am safe already with my 7th week period?

[ken1215 1]

based from the comments i've read from those who underwent sputum culture most likely if you reached the 7th week with no call from slec your result is negative. 2-5 weeks is i think is the most crucial week for your sputum to turn positive but there are 2 instances that I read from the forum that they turn positive on the 7th week and a day after the 8th week..but those are only 2.. Try calling them on 7weeks and 3 days and so on until you got your result.. coz i know one person who called just 7 wks and 3 days and she got a negative result. Hang in there buddy, you'll get a negative result, just pray and have faith.. you'll be with your family in no time..

[Benito123 1]

Do you have history of Tb that you've known of? What did they see on your xray? I got a scar left on my lungs due to history of PTB when I was a teenager. This culture is giving me so much agony. I planned to be with him before Christmas so I booked an interview last Oct 28th and because my medical is not okay I have to cancel it. On Monday, December 21st that is my 7th week and 3 days.

[ken1215 1]

I don't have a tb history or any symptoms of it but at the time of my medical, I was having an allergic rhinitis and asthma, so i guess thats what they saw on my xray..I understand your agony, i'd been there and its really hard to stay calm and sleep at night but think about it, you're already on your 7th week and no call from slec.. most likely you'll have a negative result, so keep ur hopes up, you'll be fine.. I also asked the doctor after my pulmo eval if whats the percentage to get a positive culture with a negative smear and ahe said only 5-10%.. so, you see, only very few people turn positive.. if you had a negative smear most likely 90% of the time, its negative try calling them this coming monday..

[Benito123 1]

I will try to call them on Monday and lets see. I am hoping for a negative result, of course. Thank you for the wonderful advices and especially for giving me confidence. Hope you can also share your interview experience here.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Philippines regional - topic specific to interviewing in Manila ~

[Benito123 1]

I just called slec today and my sputum result is not yet released. The nurse I spoke with asked me if when I was advised to call. I said that my culture end date is on Christmas and Im scheduled to call in January 6th. She said, I have to wait until the 6th. Should I wait that long? I know the longer I wait the better, but this is killing me

[ken1215 1]

That's exactly what they told me also but still I called them everyday until I got my result (7weeks 6days). I know a lot of Vjer's who have done that too and it works for us

[Benito123 1]

I will call them again tomorrow...i hope i can get my negative result before the holidays

[Benito123 1]

Gooduck Ken1215 on your interview today

[jempot1188 5]

Hello! what is the number to call slec? Thanks!

[Benito123 1]

Hi jempot 5240389 and 5240478

[ken1215 1]

Gooduck Ken1215 on your interview today

Hi, benito, I'm already done with my interview just the next day after I got my medical result, and now just waiting for my visa..anyway, did you inquire about your result already? I feel like you'll have a negative result too, i just know..just hang in there..

Edited December 23, 2015 by ken1215