TB Skin Tests

[Sapphire 0]

Seems particularly asinine to me that if your skin test comes up positive you then go for an xray - when people have already had xrays which the uscis have in their possession *bangs head against desk*

I second you on that...

[Sarah08 0]

Ok, speaking of TB skin tests, I need to VENT! lol

We went to get my husbands skin test about..oh..3 weeks ago. He had the TB vaccine as a baby - it's standard in Europe, from what I understand. So, of course, his test came back positive. I was thinking, ok, this is all right...we'll just get the chest x-ray done and it will come back fine, then we can get the physical done.

Boy, was I wrong!!

We did the chest x-ray, came back to the office to pick up the films and take to the county health dept. They said that he had to report it since his skin test came back positive, and show the health dept the x-ray to prove that he doesn't have TB. So we went and did that with our county's health dept (the civil surgeon is about 45 minutes away in a different county). Then we got the all-clear notice from the health dept, and were going to go back to do his physical.

Wrong again.

We went back to the civil surgeon, and apparently they failed to tell us that he had to be seen by a TB doctor and get a clearance from him. And also that we don't have a TB doctor in our county, so we had to go to the health department in the civil surgeon's county. We went there today with all of the paperwork, ready to go and get this all finished, and as luck would have it, the TB doctor was not in today, and the secretary did not know when he would be back. Sometime next week.

So we left the films there, the doctor is going to take a look at them, and then fax the clearance to the civil surgeon's office. Then, just MAYBE, we could actually get this done.

If it's not done next week, we are going to send the AOS packet without the medical portion just to avoid the fee increase. We can deal with an RFE better than we can deal with paying out an extra $700.

That feels better. I just needed to get that out lol

[~*Maria*~ 1]

While looking on the CDC website about TB skin tests regarding who can actually receive them i came across this...

Who Can Receive a TST?

Most persons can receive a TST. TST is contraindicated only for persons who have had a severe reaction (e.g., necrosis, blistering, anaphylactic shock, or ulcerations) to a previous TST. It is not contraindicated for any other persons, including infants, children, pregnant women, persons who are HIV-infected, or persons who have been vaccinated with BCG.

So, basically are they saying that people that have had BCG vaccinations shouldnt have TB skin tests or are they saying they should??

Maria

[Lovetoteach 53]

From what you've written it seems like there is no reason why those who are not contraindicated shouldn't have it. IE they should?????????.

Edited July 14, 2007 by shona

[Magnolia31 0]

Magnolia,

The instruction for Civil Surgeons for Tb testing posted on the CDC website is dated July 1992. I wouldn't call that new.

What may be new applying the Civil Surgeon instruction to visa medical exams.

Yodrak

Yodrak,

Is it really true that RFE's are being given to K1 applicants for a TB skin test when they have had a full medical with chest xrays from a panel physician and are not required another medical for AOS?

If they changed policy requiring TB skin tests, would they not have changed policy as well with the panel physicians?

My confusion comes in that if a positive TB skin test results in a chest x-ray .. doing things backwards is moot and therefore the RFE's are unjustafiable. Forgive me if I appear daft .. just at a very stressful point in this journey

lynamon,

There's an interesting difference between the Tb-related instructions for Panel Physicians, who give the visa medical exams overseas, and the instructions for Civil Surgeons, who give the medical exams here in the USA for adjustment of status.

Panel physicians are required to take a chest x-ray, and if the person has indications of Tb from either their physical appearance or the x-ray then a sputum smear test is required.

Civil surgeons are required to do a tuberculin skin test, and if there is a positive reaction then they must follow up with a chest x-ray. The civil surgeon must read the skin test (which would be unambiguous if the instruction didn't follow that statement with a parenthetical note that says self reports of the reaction are not acceptable).

Yodrak

PS - I'm moving this thread to the AOS forum since the topic is of general interest, and not Canada-specific.

Okay ... I have limited time to utilize our medical system and I have just found out that they do the chest xray at the medial but to adjust status they are now requiring a TB skin test to be done. If I ran to a lab and had it done and took the paperwork down with me would they accept the information not done by a certified US civil surgeon?

Hi! I went to my interview on Wednesday and was given an RFE for the TB skin test. My AO said it has become a new requirement. There is a link posted somewhere here on VJ which states the new CDC requirement. Although some people seem to be getting approved without it, I myself, would not take any chances. Had I known about this befire my interview, I definitely would have had it done before.

Interestingly, there's a new twist to my case. It's posted here on VJ in the AOS forum.

Hmm, what i read was dated March, 2007. I didn't see anything from 1992.

[Magnolia31 0]

Seems particularly asinine to me that if your skin test comes up positive you then go for an xray - when people have already had xrays which the uscis have in their possession *bangs head against desk*

I second you on that...

It's because an X-Ray only shows advanced TB infection. So, although it may come out clear, it still doesn't rule out early TB infection which can be detected by the skin test. I did some reading because it didnt make sense to me either.

[rebeccajo 14]

Has anybody noticed if these reports are coming out of several District Offices, or only one?

[Lovetoteach 53]

Seems particularly asinine to me that if your skin test comes up positive you then go for an xray - when people have already had xrays which the uscis have in their possession *bangs head against desk*

I second you on that...

It's because an X-Ray only shows advanced TB infection. So, although it may come out clear, it still doesn't rule out early TB infection which can be detected by the skin test. I did some reading because it didnt make sense to me either.

ok so like many who have had the BCG , the skin test comes out positive but the XRAY is clear ( but you may have possible TB as ithe XRAY only shows advanced infection) so then what ?????? more tests or a mass quarantine where everyone is forced to take meds they don't want or need. This is just toooo crazy where does it end ?

When I had the skin test it was positive and the nurse said that could mean if at some point in life if the immune system is suppressed you'd end up getting active TB ####### ????????????? Think I'm more than banging my head on the desk.

Edited July 14, 2007 by shona

[Sarah08 0]

Seems particularly asinine to me that if your skin test comes up positive you then go for an xray - when people have already had xrays which the uscis have in their possession *bangs head against desk*

I second you on that...

It's because an X-Ray only shows advanced TB infection. So, although it may come out clear, it still doesn't rule out early TB infection which can be detected by the skin test. I did some reading because it didnt make sense to me either.

ok so like many who have had the BCG , the skin test comes out positive but the XRAY is clear ( but you may have possible TB as ithe XRAY only shows advanced infection) so then what ?????? more tests or a mass quarantine where everyone is forced to take meds they don't want or need. This is just toooo crazy where does it end ?

When I had the skin test it was positive and the nurse said that could mean if at some point in life if the immune system is suppressed you'd end up getting active TB ####### ????????????? Think I'm more than banging my head on the desk.

I know exactly how you feel. After my husband got his chest x-ray, it has been nothing but mass chaos. Driving back and forth between the CS office and the health dept, one office mis-informing the other, people misinforming us, etc etc,, But it doesnt sound like we need any more tests - just the clearance from the TB doctor, then he can finally get the physical exam!

What a mess. I put all the details iin a previous post on here. You are not alone!

[SirLancelot 1]

Has anybody noticed if these reports are coming out of several District Offices, or only one?

I'm with Rebeccajo on this one. Until and unless I see a statement regarding this new TB test requirement on the USCIS website, I will assume the RFEs are localized and NOT an actual blanket requirement for all AOS applications--especially since all those who've been transferred to CSC don't seem to be getting any RFEs asking for a new TB skin test.

I will assume this does not apply to all AOS applicants until it's been definitively proven otherwise by a direct statement from USCIS.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Has anybody noticed if these reports are coming out of several District Offices, or only one?

I'm with Rebeccajo on this one. Until and unless I see a statement regarding this new TB test requirement on the USCIS website, I will assume the RFEs are localized and NOT an actual blanket requirement for all AOS applications--especially since all those who've been transferred to CSC don't seem to be getting any RFEs asking for a new TB skin test.

I will assume this does not apply to all AOS applicants until it's been definitively proven otherwise by a direct statement from USCIS.

I cant seem to find it, what district office is it thats requiring TB skin tests to be done?

[little4ele 0]

Has anybody noticed if these reports are coming out of several District Offices, or only one?

I'm with Rebeccajo on this one. Until and unless I see a statement regarding this new TB test requirement on the USCIS website, I will assume the RFEs are localized and NOT an actual blanket requirement for all AOS applications--especially since all those who've been transferred to CSC don't seem to be getting any RFEs asking for a new TB skin test.

I will assume this does not apply to all AOS applicants until it's been definitively proven otherwise by a direct statement from USCIS.

Unfortunately, I am an exception to the rule. Was transferred to California and got a RFE for medical and TB skin test. Get my skin test checked in a few hours time. And my medical papers given back to me by the CS on Tuesday. Can't wait to get this sent back to CSC, so that they can get my show on the road

[TracyTN 237]

Has anybody noticed if these reports are coming out of several District Offices, or only one?

I'm with Rebeccajo on this one. Until and unless I see a statement regarding this new TB test requirement on the USCIS website, I will assume the RFEs are localized and NOT an actual blanket requirement for all AOS applications--especially since all those who've been transferred to CSC don't seem to be getting any RFEs asking for a new TB skin test.

I will assume this does not apply to all AOS applicants until it's been definitively proven otherwise by a direct statement from USCIS.

Agreed. Yet, how are you to know if your office is one that thinks the test is required? Really the only way to be sure that you won't leave the interview with an RFE of this nature is to get a skin test if you are going to have an AOS interview.

[SirLancelot 1]

Has anybody noticed if these reports are coming out of several District Offices, or only one?

I'm with Rebeccajo on this one. Until and unless I see a statement regarding this new TB test requirement on the USCIS website, I will assume the RFEs are localized and NOT an actual blanket requirement for all AOS applications--especially since all those who've been transferred to CSC don't seem to be getting any RFEs asking for a new TB skin test.

I will assume this does not apply to all AOS applicants until it's been definitively proven otherwise by a direct statement from USCIS.

Agreed. Yet, how are you to know if your office is one that thinks the test is required? Really the only way to be sure that you won't leave the interview with an RFE of this nature is to get a skin test if you are going to have an AOS interview.

I would suggest doing some research on here to see if prior applicants going through your same district office are reporting that a TB Skin test is suddenly required now.

Alternatively, what you suggest is also an option if people don't mind going through yet another extra hoop.

Personally, we won't be going through this extra hoop unless specifically demanded to do so in writing, either in the form of a RFE, or a directive from USCIS for all field offices and regional service centers to require the TB Skin test.

[rebeccajo 14]

Read what happened here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78047