TB test stuff

[larig 0]

I just heard about the TB stuff. We have our interview in September.

My husband is from France and had a TB skin test here in the US when he arrived to apply for a volunteer position. It was positive! However, his chest xray was negative right before that. They told us at the clinic that most Europeans test positive. So what do we do? I can't submit a positive tb test to the immigration officer.

I remember someone mentioning that there is also some kind of blood test for TB that is more accurate. Does anyone know about that?

Any help is appreciated.

Lesley & Tarig

[kim&james 0]

If he has had the BCG overseas when young he would probably test positive. The Doctor who did the skin test here should of made him do another chest xray to check. If possible get a copy of whatever documentation you can from that source and keep it handy to take with you to your interview.

[RosaMystica7 0]

I would also check with his doctor to see if there's some sort of a letter that he can get stating that he tests positive because of the BCG and he shouldn't get skin tests again in the future?

[Rings 10]

You should at least have some proof that the TB Skin Test was done. From what I have read this far on this topic, it is better to have the results along with your X-ray than it is to go without it. The USCIS is just looking for people who were exposed to the virus and the X-ray proves that you do not have an extreme case of it.

[Cécy 44]

Obviously the TB skin test and the chest X-ray were done. Send both results. It happens to have a positive TB skin test as explained above. Either from being in contact with TB or receiving the BCG vaccine as a chile. It was my case.

As long as the Chest X-ray show that there is no TB no risk to worry.

But do send both. The USCIS now requires both tests to be done ever since the all TB case with the guy in the plane. Unless a doctor told your husband he needs medication there is no reason to worry. A postive TB skin test does not mean you have TB, that's why you have to do an X-ray.

PS: also if he has a document showing that he had BCG vaccine as a kid I would bring it along to the interview. We have a Carnet de Santé in France in which it should be noted.

Edited July 15, 2007 by Cécy

[Lovetoteach 53]

Cecy,

Did your CS actually send the X RAY itself or just a notification of the resultson the I 693 ?. I got my Chest x rays results on Saturday which were fine , after having had the BCG. No meds needed .

Shona

[perunyc 0]

there seems to be many questions about TB testing.

here's the skinny (from a doc):

government bureaucracy demands TB testing. first step is the skin test (aka PPD). many who have received BCG test positive.

PPD negative- you are good to go.

PPD positive- you need a chest xray. these days, it is advised that if you are PPD positive, chest xray negative, that you do 9mos of medication for treatment of latent TB (literature differs on who to treat for latent TB). don't think the government really cares about this though.

if you have ever been PPD positive in the past, you are NOT supposed to receive another PPD again (can get very bad local reaction). explain to the doc that you are PPD positive. they should request a chest xray instead.

if you have had and been treated for TB in the past, you also should NEVER receive a repeat PPD. you should only get chest xray. this is to follow for active vs old lesions (different appearance).

chest xray clean- nothing to do.

chest xray with evidence of old disease- my advice when we went through this was to give sputums (x3) to be completely cleared and not have ANY problems with immigration paperwork. you will be cleared when the stain is negative (culture takes WEEKS- you do not have to wait for this)

chest xray with active disease, or sputum positive- likely you will be treated and afterwards cleared medically.

[Cécy 44]

Cecy,

Did your CS actually send the X RAY itself or just a notification of the resultson the I 693 ?. I got my Chest x rays results on Saturday which were fine , after having had the BCG. No meds needed .

Shona

I have no idea. It's all in a sealed envelop I'm not supposed to open, but given the size I would say it's just a notification of the results. I doubt anyone at the USCIS can read an X-ray anyway

PPD positive- you need a chest xray. these days, it is advised that if you are PPD positive, chest xray negative, that you do 9mos of medication for treatment of latent TB (literature differs on who to treat for latent TB). don't think the government really cares about this though.

if you have ever been PPD positive in the past, you are NOT supposed to receive another PPD again (can get very bad local reaction). explain to the doc that you are PPD positive. they should request a chest xray instead.

Yeah I received a letter in the mail telling me "It's important that I talk to you as soon as possible regarding your health (...) your prompt attention to this matter will be appreciated." They from the X-ray place.

They seriously freaked me out!

Thankfully I know I don't have anything, I know the CS who have told me if there was anything I should worry about (I made sure to ask).

The Health center recommends me to take medicine for 9 months. For god sake I had a BCG vaccine as a child and previous positive TB test due to it. If the doctors can't even read my file and don't know that it will show positive again they're not even worth being called doctors.

I made sure they knew I wasn't happy with how they treated me on that matter. I had medical records with me.

And yes I can see that an other TB skin test gives local reactions. I still have a very tiny mark almost a month after and the mark itself stayed for a while. Damn doctors who can't read a medical file.

[lucie 0]

there seems to be many questions about TB testing.

here's the skinny (from a doc):

government bureaucracy demands TB testing. first step is the skin test (aka PPD). many who have received BCG test positive.

PPD negative- you are good to go.

PPD positive- you need a chest xray. these days, it is advised that if you are PPD positive, chest xray negative, that you do 9mos of medication for treatment of latent TB (literature differs on who to treat for latent TB). don't think the government really cares about this though.

if you have ever been PPD positive in the past, you are NOT supposed to receive another PPD again (can get very bad local reaction). explain to the doc that you are PPD positive. they should request a chest xray instead.

if you have had and been treated for TB in the past, you also should NEVER receive a repeat PPD. you should only get chest xray. this is to follow for active vs old lesions (different appearance).

chest xray clean- nothing to do.

chest xray with evidence of old disease- my advice when we went through this was to give sputums (x3) to be completely cleared and not have ANY problems with immigration paperwork. you will be cleared when the stain is negative (culture takes WEEKS- you do not have to wait for this)

chest xray with active disease, or sputum positive- likely you will be treated and afterwards cleared medically.

And this is my case. Hoping military doctors would be accepted for filing the medical form (I was wrong) I went to my doctor and got all the tests done. As a new born I got BCG vaccine and later one more when I was 14. Because of that my TB skin test came out positive. My xray was ok, they didn't find there anything but they prescribed me mentioned antibiotics. I've been taking them for a month, so eight more to go!!

To me, this whole thing just doesn't make sense.. Why would I need a skin test, when I know it's gonna come out positive because of that BCG vaccine???? I think xray should be just fine and there should be something done about it.. Unfortunately it's this way so I have to take antibiotics for nine months and see my doctor every single month...

Ok, so my next step is going to be a visit of a Civil Surgeon approved by USCIS. I know he can't give me the skin test anymore so I'm hoping the xray will be fine for my medical form - I'll bring him a paper from my doctor that I'm taking all those medications etc. Hopefully he'll be able to make a note in the form.

Hope it's not gonna affect the acceptance of my I-485.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

I had my TB skin test done July 17th PPD was Positive (16mm induration ) due to BCG as a child XRAY was clear.

UK doesnt keep records of Immunizations after you turn 25 years old. So i didnt have proof of having had my BCG

........................all i do have is BCG scarring on my arm, The CS did make a note on the result sheet that i had a BCG at 3 months old. he signed off on it and that was it. I guess if USCIS have a problem with it i'll end up having to take the meds for 9 months.

I got this done just in case i got RFE'd for it before or during my AOS interview assuming i'm getting one. Not sure at this point.

Maria

Edited August 1, 2007 by MariaDane

[misa 2]

........................all i do have is BCG scarring on my arm, The CS did make a note on the result sheet that i had a BCG at 3 months old. he signed off on it and that was it. I guess if USCIS have a problem with it i'll end up having to take the meds for 9 months.

What does BCG scarring look like? I have a scar on my upper left arm from a vaccination as a baby but I don't know what the vaccination was for.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

........................all i do have is BCG scarring on my arm, The CS did make a note on the result sheet that i had a BCG at 3 months old. he signed off on it and that was it. I guess if USCIS have a problem with it i'll end up having to take the meds for 9 months.

What does BCG scarring look like? I have a scar on my upper left arm from a vaccination as a baby but I don't know what the vaccination was for.

Its quite hard to describe but its the size of a dime and its sunken into my arm...i googled and found a pic of a BCG scar ..its the one at the top of the arm

http://www.tygh.gov.tw/chestmedicine/TBCEN...H/img/bcg17.jpg

Its a little faint so you might need to look closely!

Edited August 2, 2007 by MariaDane

[misa 2]

Thanks MariaDane! I think I did get the vaccine as a baby as I do have a scar similar to that (bigger though as my scars all tend to keloid). The scar was always visible but no longer since it's been tattooed over.

I emailed my oldest sister to ask her if she knows (my parents don't). If that's the case then I won't bother with the preemptive TB skin test and hope that they don't ask for it at my interview.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Thanks MariaDane! I think I did get the vaccine as a baby as I do have a scar similar to that (bigger though as my scars all tend to keloid). The scar was always visible but no longer since it's been tattooed over.

I emailed my oldest sister to ask her if she knows (my parents don't). If that's the case then I won't bother with the preemptive TB skin test and hope that they don't ask for it at my interview.

Glad i could help

[esojrd 0]

I remember someone mentioning that there is also some kind of blood test for TB that is more accurate. Does anyone know about that?

Any help is appreciated.

Lesley & Tarig

The other test you're looking for is the QuantiFERON TB test. Costs about $50 to get done.