The dreaded sputum test at St. Lukes

[kulayblue 1]

My parents' interview is scheduled for May 6 but when they had their medical done, they saw something in my mom's x-ray and asked her to come back for 3 consecutive days (May 4-6). She was told that St. Luke's will reschedule their interview at the embassy. My question is how long of a delay is this going to be? If after those 3 days and the tests comes out negative, will they have to wait for a long time for interview? Has anyone been through the same situation? I

[wworld808 1]

Hi, I remembered my friend also had that situation she went to her medical exam then found out she had abnormality on her x-ray in which she was suprised coz she's not expecting it sinced it wasn't seen the last time she had an X-ray. Then she was ordered by sputum test for 3 days and you have to pay for it too. It came positive so she need to do it again for couple of days and gave her medicine too until it went clear. Her interviewed was scheduled April but due to that situation she got interviewed on June and she passed.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

If she goes through the sputnum...which I think this is what they are doing...there is a 2 month wait for the culture to grow.

[kulayblue 1]

If she goes through the sputnum...which I think this is what they are doing...there is a 2 month wait for the culture to grow.

Thanks! So that means they won't find out whether it's positive or negative until after two months?

[Treyu 0]

My mom has the same experience and it is really very devastating for her and for all of us who have been waiting for so long to see her here in the US! I just wish that the sputum tests come out negative and that she does not have to wait for the culture test anymore so she can go to her interview on the 13th without being delayed. I guess this post is like my prayer. I am praying really hard for her to get through this the quickest possible way. Kulayblue, she is also scheduled to do the three day sputum tests on May 4,5, and 6. They will know whether she gets a negative or positive sputum test on the third day, May 6. I just hope there is another way out of the 2-month long delay.

Wishing both our moms the best, negative sputum tests, and no two-month long delay for the sputum culture. It would be a nice Mother's Day gift for both of them.

[kulayblue 1]

My mom has the same experience and it is really very devastating for her and for all of us who have been waiting for so long to see her here in the US! I just wish that the sputum tests come out negative and that she does not have to wait for the culture test anymore so she can go to her interview on the 13th without being delayed. I guess this post is like my prayer. I am praying really hard for her to get through this the quickest possible way. Kulayblue, she is also scheduled to do the three day sputum tests on May 4,5, and 6. They will know whether she gets a negative or positive sputum test on the third day, May 6. I just hope there is another way out of the 2-month long delay.

Wishing both our moms the best, negative sputum tests, and no two-month long delay for the sputum culture. It would be a nice Mother's Day gift for both of them.

Treyu, let's pray for the best! My mom told me that she was talking to someone there and that the person's 3-day sputum test was negative but after two months, the culture came back positive so she had another 6 month delay for the treatment. I really hope that our moms won't have to go through that.

[sachinky 464]

Good luck to both of you. I hope everything works out.

Keep us posted.

[kulayblue 1]

Good luck to both of you. I hope everything works out.

Keep us posted.

Thanks sachinky! I will post more info as soon as I hear back from my mom tomorrow

[sachinky 464]

Hey, any updates, guys?

[andresbonifacio 7]

they required my mom to take the sputum test too

this is stupid, how come they only to these tests for immigrants and not those who apply for visitor's visa?

even if you're just visiting you can still infect other people if you've got HIV,TB,etc. right?

Edited May 19, 2010 by andresbonifacio

[friendsforever 0]

they required my mom to take the sputum test too

this is stupid, how come they only to these tests for immigrants and not those who apply for visitor's visa?

even if you're just visiting you can still infect other people if you've got HIV,TB,etc. right?

[beback 0]

Goodluck to all of you! I hope everything is ok, any updates? I just sent my mom's petition im a little bit worry too. I guess i will ask my mom to go to the doctor and get x ray done or sputum test before she goes to her medical, maybe it will help.

[andresbonifacio 7]

Goodluck to all of you! I hope everything is ok, any updates? I just sent my mom's petition im a little bit worry too. I guess i will ask my mom to go to the doctor and get x ray done or sputum test before she goes to her medical, maybe it will help.

the best thing your mom can do is go to her medical exam at St.Luke's as soon as you get her MNL case number so that there's more than enough time for the 2 month sputum culture (just in case they find some scar on her x-ray too) before her scheduled interview at the embassy.

now my mom's interview will be moved to end of July instead of June 16.

[Treyu 0]

Treyu, let's pray for the best! My mom told me that she was talking to someone there and that the person's 3-day sputum test was negative but after two months, the culture came back positive so she had another 6 month delay for the treatment. I really hope that our moms won't have to go through that.

Kulayblue, I doubt it very much. Both our moms do not have spots or scars on their xrays, right? what they have are just a little blurring on the results. Do people have blurred lungs, really? Why don't they just repeat the xray if it is blurred? Blurring is not caused by tb virus, or is it? Frankly speaking, I am just angry right now. They destroyed the reunion I had been planning. My mom said it was not the right time and that it is ok to wait. I am with her on that, but the fact that they suspected her of tb based on a blurred xray still leaves me fuming.

[Treyu 0]

the best thing your mom can do is go to her medical exam at St.Luke's as soon as you get her MNL case number so that there's more than enough time for the 2 month sputum culture (just in case they find some scar on her x-ray too) before her scheduled interview at the embassy.

now my mom's interview will be moved to end of July instead of June 16.

AB, your baby is so cute! I am with you on this. I just wished that I have known this before so I could have advised mom to go to her medical as soon as we received the case number way back in March. She would have been here by now. No use crying over spilled milk, anyhow, but just can't help wishing anyway.

I have some friends who went to St. Luke's yesterday with just their case number and approval notice, but guess what, the guard asked for an interview letter from them and did not let them in until they talked to their lawyer in the US and the lawyer told them to insist on being admitted because they already have a case number. After a few minutes, they were admitted but not before they have been told to stand aside and were subjected to embarrassment! What's up with St. Luke? Why do they accept some, and reject others? I guess it depends on the guard on duty. So now if you want to have an advance medical with just your mnl number and approval notice, you are at the mercy of the guard on duty, whether he will let you in or not.

This sure sucks!