US Embassy Bogota Laboratory

[Oscarin Po 1]

Good day to all,

As many of you may be aware there seems to be a problem with the ONLY laboratory that was being used by the US Embassy in Bogota to process ALL of the visa cases. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?(aside from being patient and waiting) It has been a long time waiting since this pandemic, then a problem with the backlog of cases from NVC, and now we are all being placed on Administrative Process due to the fact that the LABORATORY and the Embassy "SYSTEM" is overwhelmed? Come on folks enough is enough! There has to be a quick resolution to this. How about we all come together as one and act up on this matter? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

[SalishSea 16,814]

42 minutes ago, Oscarin Po said:

Good day to all,

As many of you may be aware there seems to be a problem with the ONLY laboratory that was being used by the US Embassy in Bogota to process ALL of the visa cases. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?(aside from being patient and waiting) It has been a long time waiting since this pandemic, then a problem with the backlog of cases from NVC, and now we are all being placed on Administrative Process due to the fact that the LABORATORY and the Embassy "SYSTEM" is overwhelmed? Come on folks enough is enough! There has to be a quick resolution to this. How about we all come together as one and act up on this matter? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

What laboratory are you talking about?

[Paco415 60]

15 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

What laboratory are you talking about?

The lab in Colombia. A system failure in the process is causing administrative delays in visa issuances out of the embassy in Bogotá.

[SalishSea 16,814]

1 minute ago, Paco415 said:

The lab in Colombia. A system failure in the process is causing administrative delays in visa issuances out of the embassy in Bogotá.

What is a lab meant to be processing in terms of visas?

[Oscarin Po 1]

@Jorgedig The laboratory (they do an x-ray of the chest and blood work) is part of the doctor visit (physical) that the embassy requires prior to the consular interview. So the ONLY ONE (lab in Bogota that meets "requirements") has system failure. So that's how they're involved in the whole visa process...

[Paco415 60]

I have learned via the WhatsApp group that the one lab being used for visa applicants in Colombia was basically falsifying results due to inadequate resources to process specimens 😨 … the embassy doctors alerted the embassy to this and canceled their relationship with the lab. This has caused many many IVs to go into administrative processing. The attachment indicates it involves gonorrhea results but another applicant received a letter stating tuberculosis results, so I suppose all results are suspect. The attachment is a screenshot in Spanish but I will cut and paste below what someone shared from the embassy in both English and Spanish:

 

“Greetings from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. You are receiving this email because we have been advised by the panel physicians serving the Embassy that they have reason to believe your IGRA (tuberculosis) test result, performed at Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico, Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1, Bogota, Colombia, is not reliable.  They advised the Embassy that the laboratory  did not have the required supplies to perform the test and falsified the report for that test.  We understand the laboratory did draw your blood but did not test it.  The laboratory then reported a “negative” test result for tuberculosis to the panel physician without performing the test.  The panel physicians (Dr. Roa, Dr. Dennis, and Dr. Piñeros) immediately terminated their relationship with the laboratory upon discovering the laboratory’s actions.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined, for your specific case, you do not need to have a new test performed.  If your visa has already been issued, your visa is valid and you may travel to the United States before the expiration date printed on the visa.  If your visa has not yet been issued, we will process your case to conclusion using the medical examination in its current state.  However, the CDC advises that it may be beneficial for your own health and safety to seek repeat testing to confirm that you are negative for tuberculosis.  At this time, we have no evidence that any other components of your medical exam were compromised.   

As soon as the Embassy was informed of the situation, we banned Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico from participation in any further medical examinations.  The lab administrator has offered to provide a refund of the cost of the test that was not performed.  The panel physicians are discussing with the lab how to request a refund and you will receive more information once those details are finalized.

We are deeply troubled by the laboratory’s actions, and we are sorry that it has caused you inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit
U.S. Embassy Bogotá
jvb

-------
Estimado solicitante o acudiente:

Saludos desde la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Bogotá, Colombia. Usted recibe este correo electrónico porque los médicos del panel que atienden a la Embajada nos han informado que tienen motivos para creer el resultado de su prueba IGRA, realizada en el Instituto y Laboratorio Clínico, Calle 38 No. 8-28, Local No. 1, Bogotá, Colombia, no es confiable. Avisaron a la Embajada que el laboratorio no contaba con los suministros necesarios para realizar la prueba y falsificaron el informe de dicha prueba. Entendemos que el laboratorio le extrajo sangre pero no lo analizó. Luego, el laboratorio informó un resultado de prueba "negativo" para tuberculosis al médico del panel sin realizar la prueba. Los médicos del panel (Dr. Roa, Dr. Dennis y Dr. Piñeros) inmediatamente terminaron su relación con el laboratorio al descubrir las acciones del laboratorio.

Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) han determinado que, para su caso específico, no es necesario que se realice una nueva prueba. Si su visa ya ha sido emitida, su visa es válida y puede viajar a los Estados Unidos antes de la fecha de vencimiento impresa en la visa. Si su visa aún no ha sido emitida, procesaremos su caso hasta su conclusión utilizando el examen médico en su estado actual. Sin embargo, el CDC advierte que puede ser beneficioso para su propia salud y seguridad buscar repetir las pruebas para confirmar que es negativo para tuberculosis. En este momento, no tenemos evidencia de que otros componentes de su examen médico se hayan visto comprometidos.

Tan pronto como se informó a la Embajada de la situación, prohibimos al Instituto y Laboratorio Clínico participar en cualquier examen médico en el futuro. El administrador del laboratorio se ha ofrecido a reembolsar el costo de la prueba que no se realizó. Los médicos del panel están discutiendo con el laboratorio cómo solicitar un reembolso y usted recibirá más información una vez se finalicen los detalles.  

Estamos profundamente preocupados por las acciones del laboratorio y lamentamos que les haya causado molestias.

Cordialmente,

Unidad de visas de inmigrante
Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Bogotá
jvb ”