Sputum Test

[giamimigio 21]

i was just curious. how do they determine who needs to do the culture? and why does it seem like it's only in Philippines? thanks for your responses

[Honey&Bee 1]

i was just curious. how do they determine who needs to do the culture? and why does it seem like it's only in Philippines? thanks for your responses

Hi! They base it from the result of the X-Ray. That is why the lungs should be clear. If there is any sign or indication, they will have the person undergo more tests - thus culture / sputum test, because they are making sure the person who has an intent to migrate to the US does not have tuberculosis (TB). I'm not sure if it is just in the Philippines, but I think since TB is frequent in Asian countries (the Philippines included), that is why it is part of the Medical exam.. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read it somewhere

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Apparently the Philippines ranks 9th among the 22 high-burden tuberculosis countries (which make up 80% of all TB cases) in the world.

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/id/tuberculosis/countries/asia/philippines.pdf

They probably check other countries on the list as well.

[giamimigio 21]

got it. they go by the x-ray. after posting i also figured Philippines had to rank pretty high up the list of TB cases.

thank you for your input! good luck with your journeys!

[calibob 73]

They found a "blur" on my wife's x-ray. A sputum smear (negative) and two months later the culture was negative also......not a happy camper here but better her healthy than ill. My advice would be to do your medical asap.....in case you have a two month layover.....sigh......

Bob

[ManilatoSeattle 6]

I have to go for sputum test too on May 24,25,26. I had a history of PTB 4 years ago. At St.Lukes they did saw a scar in my lungs. According to my family doctor I am cure. Is the sputum test will be negative too?

[giamimigio 21]

They found a "blur" on my wife's x-ray. A sputum smear (negative) and two months later the culture was negative also......not a happy camper here but better her healthy than ill. My advice would be to do your medical asap.....in case you have a two month layover.....sigh......

Bob

that's a shame. but you're right. at least it was negative.

good luck the rest of the way and thanks for the advice, Bob!

[drakkon84 1]

Same for my wife. She got hit glad i had her go get her medical done as soon as i did. Hoping we can reschedule her interview right after the results. Her original interview date was the 2nd of June she gets her results on the 14 of June. Hoping to have her interview at least by end of June

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Same for my wife. She got hit glad i had her go get her medical done as soon as i did. Hoping we can reschedule her interview right after the results. Her original interview date was the 2nd of June she gets her results on the 14 of June. Hoping to have her interview at least by end of June

No need to worry about rescheduling your wife's interview. St. Luke's will do it for you.

Best of luck to you and yours...

[graceroxas 17]

i was just curious. how do they determine who needs to do the culture? and why does it seem like it's only in Philippines? thanks for your responses

I once heard a local expert (Dr. Vicente Belizario of UP Manila) say that around 70 percent of Pinoys are likely to have radiologic (i.e. x-ray) signs of TB without actually having contracted the disease. We are such a high-burden country that TB is literally in the air.

That certainly weighed on my mind when I had my medical but everything went fine. Perhaps St. Luke's adjusts the local reference value for what should constitute a referral for a sputum test. Otherwise, a lot of people would be getting referred.

Grace

Edited May 23, 2011 by graceroxas

[gil & gina 0]

Same for my wife. She got hit glad i had her go get her medical done as soon as i did. Hoping we can reschedule her interview right after the results. Her original interview date was the 2nd of June she gets her results on the 14 of June. Hoping to have her interview at least by end of June

Im with you on this, my hubby's culture result will be due on June 13, his interview was scheduled June 10, he called St. Lukes & they told him that they will reschedule his interview for him, no need to cancel the previously scheduled date from the embassy. We called the Embassy to confirm, they said that they only reschedule after the result is out & St Lukes will do the rescheduling. Lets hope & pray for an interview schedule few days after medical Goodluck to us all!