Wife has to do sputum test.

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Now I am worried that my wife might have TB. If she is positive, she will be stuck here in the Philippines for another 6 months at least after the 2 month test for a total of 8+ months delay. She has no symptoms of TB but they found "something" in the chest x-ray apparently. Judging by the amount of people standing outside SLEC in the morning for a sputum test, they do this to about 75% of all people doing the medical. What are the chances of my wife actually having active TB? And if she has latent TB, will she still have to undergo medical treatment; or is it that only immigrants with ACTIVE TB have to do the treatment? Two months is a long time to wait for results...

We had the same situation as yours even though I had 2 chest x-rays prior to the medical. St. Luke's still found something suspecious on my upper right lobe so I had to undergo the 3 day sputum and 2-month culture tests. Base on the others' statements, 73% out of 75% passed the test. Including myself. If your wife does not have the TB symptoms then I can assure you that she doesn't have one and guarantee that she will pass the tests.

Prayer is the best effective medicine.

Good luck!

Edited March 15, 2010 by ~happyndinlove~

[JT114881 2]

Sounds good but 73% out of 75% of what? What is the other 25%? I am guessing you mean 25% pass the medical with no sputum test, and out of the 75% that do undergo the sputum test 73% pass. Am I right? Haha.

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Sounds good but 73% out of 75% of what? What is the other 25%? I am guessing you mean 25% pass the medical with no sputum test, and out of the 75% that do undergo the sputum test 73% pass. Am I right? Haha.

You got it!

[Mel & Jay 0]

Hi guys,

I asked my doctor who is a specialist for Pulmonary Diseases in Medical City. I told her about my US visa

application and that I underwent Sputum and Culture Test in St. Lukes.

I told her also that my smear is negative and that I am still waiting for the result of the culture test.

According to her, if your smear is negative. it's 90 percent chance that your culture is negative.

But there's still that 10% chance that your culture will be positive.

As for me, after 2 months of waiting. I didnt get any advance call from St. Lukes - meaning my culture test went

fine. I called them today regarding the result. The guy informed me to go there tomorrow and to bring my passport, old appointment Letter

and the receipt of your medical.

So guys! Take note to bring these with you once you're done with the culture test. GOOD LUCK TO US ALL!! c",)

Edited May 11, 2010 by Mel & Jay

[JT114881 2]

My wife is now 1 month into D.O.T. her culture was "positive". Stuck in the Philippines for another 7 months.

[condz 0]

I have the same situation right now.. I have a history of PTB way back 2007-2008... and now when I went to St. Lukes to have my medical last September 6, they still saw some suspicious substance... so I need to get my sputum test on Sept 20-22... I pray it will turn out negative.. Unfortunately I need to wait for the two months for my interview.. How I wish it will end well......

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

I have the same situation right now.. I have a history of PTB way back 2007-2008... and now when I went to St. Lukes to have my medical last September 6, they still saw some suspicious substance... so I need to get my sputum test on Sept 20-22... I pray it will turn out negative.. Unfortunately I need to wait for the two months for my interview.. How I wish it will end well......

I know exactly how you feel. Only the difference is I never had TB since but the fact that I knew I had to do the same thing really stressed us (hubby and I) out! Resting well and drinking plenty of water helps.

And pray...

Good Luck!

To the OP: I'm sorry that your wife's culture test result came out positive.

[Kikay K 1]

Hi! Condz, we have the same history. I underwent PTB treatment in 2007-2008, too. Although I was asymptomatic and sputum negative back then and my spot was as small as my pinky nail, I still chose to undergo treatment to stop the worries there and then. True enough, now I feel better while waiting for the sputum culture result, knowing that I've already been treated and that my recent xray shows further improvement in my lung (scar has been getting smaller even 2 years after treatment). I'm going on 5 weeks on my sputum culture this coming week. Looking forward to a negative sputum test result when I call SLMEC on Oct. 8. Good luck and more patience to us! :-)

[condz 0]

Hi! Condz, we have the same history. I underwent PTB treatment in 2007-2008, too. Although I was asymptomatic and sputum negative back then and my spot was as small as my pinky nail, I still chose to undergo treatment to stop the worries there and then. True enough, now I feel better while waiting for the sputum culture result, knowing that I've already been treated and that my recent xray shows further improvement in my lung (scar has been getting smaller even 2 years after treatment). I'm going on 5 weeks on my sputum culture this coming week. Looking forward to a negative sputum test result when I call SLMEC on Oct. 8. Good luck and more patience to us! :-)

yeah.. good luck for the both of us... I knew that scar will not erase anymore.... But still I'm stressful....

[babystef 8]

oh..im in the same situation right now..its kinda disappointing but we can't do something about it. all we have to do is wait and pray. my sputum test wilol start on july 28..