SLEC Dreaded Medical Examination

[Sarry08 17]

So i am preparing for my medical and I'm just wondering what are the odds of passing it? I heard a lot of scary stories online and it's making me even more nervous. What are the ratio? Are there more applicants passing it rather than failing it? Especially the sputum exam? Thank you.

[SalishSea 16,770]

1 minute ago, Sarry08 said:

So i am preparing for my medical and I'm just wondering what are the odds of passing it? I heard a lot of scary stories online and it's making me even more nervous. What are the ratio? Are there more applicants passing it rather than failing it? Especially the sputum exam? Thank you.

Many more applicants pass than fail.  In PI, you are at some greater risk for a positive TB test, but that is still in the minority.  Do not fret; even a positive can be treated and overcome.

[geowrian 22,335]

The overwhelming majority of applicants go through the medical fine. There are only a few conditions that present hurdles.

TB is a serious concern with PH, and a number of people have to go through sputum collection and testing. This is not the norm (i.e. likely well under 50% of people), but isn't uncommon either.

In the fairly rare case one does have TB, they would go through 6 months of treatment at SLEC.

In the end, once the condition is cleared up, they should be fine.

[payxibka 10,044]

22 minutes ago, Sarry08 said:

So i am preparing for my medical and I'm just wondering what are the odds of passing it? I heard a lot of scary stories online and it's making me even more nervous. What are the ratio? Are there more applicants passing it rather than failing it? Especially the sputum exam? Thank you.

Passing or failing is not something that is subjective.  Manila issues on average more than 400 k-1 visas each month, which is more than 4 times the average of the #2 issuing consulate.  This would indicate that a super majority of applicants not only pass the medical but also pass the Visa interview

[Ontarkie 13,916]

~~Moved to the PI forum, from K1 P&P - the OP is asking about the medical which can vary form country to country.~~

[Sarry08 17]

49 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

~~Moved to the PI forum, from K1 P&P - the OP is asking about the medical which can vary form country to country.~~

Sorry where can i find the PI forum?

[payxibka 10,044]

26 minutes ago, Sarry08 said:

Sorry where can i find the PI forum?

Main forums page, scroll down to regional discussion, then Philippines

[lovemeow 15]

Sorry to tell you, but in SLEC, more applicants fail than pass. During my time (Feb 2018), it was 300 of us who sees each other everyday for 4 days (3 days Sputum exam) and 1 day for Re-evaluation. 

[geowrian 22,335]

12 minutes ago, lovemeow said:

Sorry to tell you, but in SLEC, more applicants fail than pass. During my time (Feb 2018), it was 300 of us who sees each other everyday for 4 days (3 days Sputum exam) and 1 day for Re-evaluation. 

Mania handles just under 20% of all K class cases in the world. While 300 is a lot, Manila processed just under 7,000 K-1s + 1,500 K-2s last year. So 300  * 2 (6 months of treatment means 2 cycles of new people annually) / 8500 = 7%.

[lovemeow 15]

9 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Mania handles just under 20% of all K class cases in the world. While 300 is a lot, Manila processed just under 7,000 K-1s + 1,500 K-2s last year. So 300  * 2 (6 months of treatment means 2 cycles of new people annually) / 8500 = 7%.

sorry, those 300 of us (ALL applicants), not specifically K1's only and for Sputum exam only.. 😬... it's just frustrating to see most applicants are undergoing Sputum exam and being delayed for 2 months... but only a few gets positive results and undergo treatmnet for 6 months... 

[geowrian 22,335]

13 minutes ago, lovemeow said:

sorry, those 300 of us (ALL applicants), not specifically K1's only and for Sputum exam only.. 😬... it's just frustrating to see most applicants are undergoing Sputum exam and being delayed for 2 months... but only a few gets positive results and undergo treatmnet for 6 months... 

I could add in immigrant visa numbers to those counts, but there is little reason to believe the ratio would be considerably different.

Sure, sputum testing happens more often than TB treatment. But even then that would be 6 cycles of new people (~2 months for each group)...changing the rate of being tested to 21%. It's still far below the "more applicants fail than pass" and "most applicants" claims.

 

I understand the frustration, though. Nobody wants to get so far and have to wait longer.

At the same time, even though only a small number of tests result in actual TB findings, 1) TB is deadly and this testing is directly saving lives, and 2) it's quite contagious. If they miss even a few handful of people, imagine the consequences (both in terms of others infected and how this would impact future intending immigrants).

Edited November 29, 2018 by geowrian

[Hank_ 9,173]

2 hours ago, lovemeow said:

sorry, those 300 of us (ALL applicants), not specifically K1's only and for Sputum exam only.. 😬... it's just frustrating to see most applicants are undergoing Sputum exam and being delayed for 2 months... but only a few gets positive results and undergo treatmnet for 6 months... 

When you take into consideration that the Philippines is on the Top Ten list of countries with high counts of TB ...  I guess it is to be expected.

 

St. Luke's has to follow the guideline set by CDC.

 

The plus to all of this is those that test positive are cured .. TB kills.

[lovemeow 15]

2 hours ago, geowrian said:

I could add in immigrant visa numbers to those counts, but there is little reason to believe the ratio would be considerably different.

Sure, sputum testing happens more often than TB treatment. But even then that would be 6 cycles of new people (~2 months for each group)...changing the rate of being tested to 21%. It's still far below the "more applicants fail than pass" and "most applicants" claims.

 

I understand the frustration, though. Nobody wants to get so far and have to wait longer.

At the same time, even though only a small number of tests result in actual TB findings, 1) TB is deadly and this testing is directly saving lives, and 2) it's quite contagious. If they miss even a few handful of people, imagine the consequences (both in terms of others infected and how this would impact future intending immigrants).

YES, i know. TB kills. I'm a Nurse in Infectious Ward, most of my patients are Active TB, i handled and cared for ALL kinds of TB. But I just feel frustrated how SLEC assess the applicants. As a Nurse (especially for Infectious Department), i am having my X-Ray, doing all kinds of Swabs (Nose, Throat and Sputum) every month and numerous Vaccines as a saftey protocol and I have always been tested Negative in bloods with CLEAR Xrays, with High Immunity... then coming to SLEC, suddenly something appeared in my X-Ray. I felt frustrated thinking maybe I have acquired the TB already, when I asked the Doctor in SLEC a lot of questions, she said while looking at my file, "OH, YOU'RE A NURSE, NO WONDER", I  dont know what she meant by saying that... is it just because I'm a Nurse and they're expecting me to be tested or is it just why am i asking too many questions... because i was staring at my X-Ray when she showed it to me and I cant see anything but then she said, " Maybe you had TB without you knowing. Anyways, bigger chances you'll be Negative and just wait 2 months"... with that kind of answerfrom their doctor it was very unprofessional so I don't trust them at all

 

 but then I have nothing else to do but comply...

 

Coming here to US, I did an X-ray and Sputum exam after 2 weeks of my arrival, and it was very CLEAR... The US doctor (from Public Health) said, my lungs are perfect... then I showed my CD Xray results from SLEC... the doctor said there's nothing and wondered.. he even told me "It's funny how the results of your Medical in your country came out" 😀

 

 

[lolhahaha 6]

My fiance went in for hers Monday+Tuesday.

 

Paid 17K+, had some tests done the first day, 2 shots the 2nd day. It was over, we did her interview at the Embassy on Wednesday. Piece of cake.

 

No issues. I wonder how they do the TB test there though. I know in the US hospitals years ago they just did the skin test and you came back in 2 days or something and they looked at it. They don't do that here, which is probably good because that skin test was questionable. Skin would get irritated then it was always a judgement call which seemed kinda like flipping a coin to me, which having TB or not isn't that at all.

[geowrian 22,335]

8 minutes ago, lolhahaha said:

No issues. I wonder how they do the TB test there though. I know in the US hospitals years ago they just did the skin test and you came back in 2 days or something and they looked at it. They don't do that here, which is probably good because that skin test was questionable. Skin would get irritated then it was always a judgement call which seemed kinda like flipping a coin to me, which having TB or not isn't that at all.

They check an x-ray for scarring or other signs. If found, they will do sputum collection over 3 days then ~2 months of waiting for a result. If TB is confirmed, it's 6 months of treatments at SLEC.

For children I think they do the IGRA blood test as well.

Edited November 29, 2018 by geowrian