FunLover2000
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Got TB Skin test result as +ve. X-Ray was taken. Started anxious indefine wait.
question regaring medical exam for applying I-485
- Thread starter tweetysweety
- Start date
Jackolantern
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Don't worry ... it is very common to get a positive skin test if you had the vaccine.
tweetysweety
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i got my skin test positive too, but x ray came out normal.
but the doctor says as a precaution i should take full course of treatment
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
Doctor wants to get paid. Get a second opinion before taking the treatment. You had the vaccine, right? And you told the doctor that? The doctor should have enough sense to know that the vaccine can cause a positive skin test.i got my skin test positive too, but x ray came out normal.
but the doctor says as a precaution i should take full course of treatment
tweetysweety
Registered Users (C)
yes i had the vaccine back home, but the doctor says that if that was the case my husband , who also had the vaccine, should have got the test positive but it came negative for him and positive for me.
FunLover2000
Registered Users (C)
i got my skin test positive too, but x ray came out normal.
but the doctor says as a precaution i should take full course of treatment
5 Years back my son went thru the cycle. He got his skin test +ve and X-Ray is normal and its in public health center (No financial interest there). But then, he has to take 9 months course. As I am also having other small child in home, he has to follow the course too (Though he didn't continue more than a month..he is not even 2 years at that time!). I used to get remainders from nurses of health center.
I always confuse. India is not that bad and I am pretty sure that we got vaccinated for TB. Yet I know, we will turn positive for TB Skin test due to the limitation of the test itself.
BTW, our X-Rays not yet out and may be expected tommorow evening and they say that X-Ray reading machine is not working. After all, they need tube light!!
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Jackolantern
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Doctors should also have enough sense to know that the vaccine won't cause a positive skin test for everybody. The skin test has a high rate of false positives. Go to another doctor for another opinion. Why the hell is he still recommending treatment when the X-Ray is OK?
FunLover2000
Registered Users (C)
Tweetysweety,
I fully agree with Jackolantern. Your PPO plan would greatly help to seek second opinion.
I don't agree with the doctor differentiating both of you on the basis of skin test alone. Even if you take 9 months medication, you for your life get +ve for skin test!
I fully agree with Jackolantern. Your PPO plan would greatly help to seek second opinion.
I don't agree with the doctor differentiating both of you on the basis of skin test alone. Even if you take 9 months medication, you for your life get +ve for skin test!
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I went for medical test and I have to go back for the result of the skin test. I already see a red bump more than a 1 cm. I might be +ve too.
What I read on the internet is if you had BCG vaccine, you will difinitely get +ve in skin test. This vaccine is very common in India, but not given at all here in US.
What I read on the internet is if you had BCG vaccine, you will difinitely get +ve in skin test. This vaccine is very common in India, but not given at all here in US.
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
It's not definite that the BCG will cause a positive skin test. It usually does, but not always. I got the BCG as a child but had a negative skin test (bump was only about 5 mm).
FunLover2000
Registered Users (C)
This is simply the stupidity.
Once the skin test is +ve, it will be +ve for life. Yet, they are forcing us to go for testing. Both of my kids skin test +ve, X-Ray normal and is mandatory to for these tests for schooling. Yet, they again got tested for skin test and UNNECESSARY x-ray exposure that too for CHEST. Their stupidity may effect ourselves. I am not very sure the effects of multiple times of vaccines!!
BTW, our X-ray results are now reached our doctor. And he is closing the clinic right away as he has to attend a funeral. So, need to go there on Tuesday to collect the reports (Not yet known, whats the result). Then, procedure kicks in with mailing documents to CORPORATE lawyers. I hope, the lawyers can submit before the 30th June. Very disappointed.
i am a new user
Registered Users (C)
Looks like too many recent applicants are going through the TB nightmare that I am going through.. I read somewhere that BCIS has tightened its requirements since Jan 2007.
I also found out there is a TB blood test called Quanti-FERON TB Gold test (FDA approved in 2005) that is not affected by BCG vaccine (as is the case w/ the PPD skin test). The only catch is that it is affected by the PPD skin test so needs to be done BEFORE the skin test. I found out too late (after the skin test) but perhaps others can try getting that QFT-G blood test if they think they may get positive PPD skin test and avoid all the unnecessary headache w/ -xrays, potential unnecessary treatment, etc. Here is more info on CDC's website: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5415a4.htm
I also found out there is a TB blood test called Quanti-FERON TB Gold test (FDA approved in 2005) that is not affected by BCG vaccine (as is the case w/ the PPD skin test). The only catch is that it is affected by the PPD skin test so needs to be done BEFORE the skin test. I found out too late (after the skin test) but perhaps others can try getting that QFT-G blood test if they think they may get positive PPD skin test and avoid all the unnecessary headache w/ -xrays, potential unnecessary treatment, etc. Here is more info on CDC's website: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5415a4.htm
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
The bump can take a few days to show up. That's why they ask you to go back to the doctor's office some number of days after giving the test. Whatever you do, don't scratch or do anything to irritate the bump and make it get bigger.
Blood test to determine if vaccination required.
I and my wife did not have any record of our vaccination history.
So the Civil Surgeon gave gave us the following.
[1]Tetanus vaccine
[2]Shot for Skin test for TB.
[3]Then she took our blood samples and had it analyzed and when she got back the results in about 4 days, she certified that we were immune and did not need further vaccination(s).
I and my wife did not have any record of our vaccination history.
So the Civil Surgeon gave gave us the following.
[1]Tetanus vaccine
[2]Shot for Skin test for TB.
[3]Then she took our blood samples and had it analyzed and when she got back the results in about 4 days, she certified that we were immune and did not need further vaccination(s).
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i am a new user
Registered Users (C)
sonya77,
the bump probably takes 1-3 days. You may not even get a bump. Redness is not considered a positive reaction, although many immigration doctors don't seem to know that. I got my clearance from the county health department b/c I was unfortunate to have gone to a bad doc.. the people at the county health dept seemed much more knowledgeable about BCG, TB, skin test, etc..
Like Jackolantern, all I have to say is don't touch, rub, scratch, or put anything on it. I didn't know about it and went to the beach and put sunscreen on it, that really irritated it and made it red. the bump didn't increase but as I said, some immigr. docs are so bad and they don't know that induration (bump) is what matters, not redness. In my country they even tell us not to get the test place wet so if you can, cover the area around it when you shower but avoid touching the place itself. Good luck.
the bump probably takes 1-3 days. You may not even get a bump. Redness is not considered a positive reaction, although many immigration doctors don't seem to know that. I got my clearance from the county health department b/c I was unfortunate to have gone to a bad doc.. the people at the county health dept seemed much more knowledgeable about BCG, TB, skin test, etc..
Like Jackolantern, all I have to say is don't touch, rub, scratch, or put anything on it. I didn't know about it and went to the beach and put sunscreen on it, that really irritated it and made it red. the bump didn't increase but as I said, some immigr. docs are so bad and they don't know that induration (bump) is what matters, not redness. In my country they even tell us not to get the test place wet so if you can, cover the area around it when you shower but avoid touching the place itself. Good luck.
Few facts about ppd test:
1. Receiving BCG vaccine MAY lead to positive test. As time goes by, it can turn back negative. So, if you received BCG as a kid (1year) and now at age 35 or so you are still positive, then you have peobably been exposed, and cant blame it on the vaccine
2. If you were negative for PPD in the past and now are positive then that should be taken as a serious sign of recent exposure.
3. If you are perfectly healthy, no cough, no wt loss, Normal chest X ray, and have a positive PPD, then you dont have TB, just exposure. In most of cases you dont need treatment. But if you are involved in taking care of kids (say child care center) or people with low immunity, then treatment is recommended so you dont transmit it to them. Even after treatment, the PPD will remain positive, as it indicates exposure and not infection.
4.Bigger the size of the "bump" more likely that you have been exposed.
5. Once PPD is positive, no point retesting in 1-2 years, it is probably still positive.
6. Make sure the nurse or doc is measuring it the right was, (vertical size along the length of the arm should not be measures, only the side to side, along the short axis of the arm should be measured) So if the lesion is 4 cm in length along the long axis of your arm and only0.9 cm along the short axis, then it should be read as negative.
1. Receiving BCG vaccine MAY lead to positive test. As time goes by, it can turn back negative. So, if you received BCG as a kid (1year) and now at age 35 or so you are still positive, then you have peobably been exposed, and cant blame it on the vaccine
2. If you were negative for PPD in the past and now are positive then that should be taken as a serious sign of recent exposure.
3. If you are perfectly healthy, no cough, no wt loss, Normal chest X ray, and have a positive PPD, then you dont have TB, just exposure. In most of cases you dont need treatment. But if you are involved in taking care of kids (say child care center) or people with low immunity, then treatment is recommended so you dont transmit it to them. Even after treatment, the PPD will remain positive, as it indicates exposure and not infection.
4.Bigger the size of the "bump" more likely that you have been exposed.
5. Once PPD is positive, no point retesting in 1-2 years, it is probably still positive.
6. Make sure the nurse or doc is measuring it the right was, (vertical size along the length of the arm should not be measures, only the side to side, along the short axis of the arm should be measured) So if the lesion is 4 cm in length along the long axis of your arm and only0.9 cm along the short axis, then it should be read as negative.
Jackolantern, "i am a new user":
Thank you for your responses. I went to the doctor today and he said that I had no reaction to the TB test. Great news! i guess the fact that I had the BCG 10 years ago did not affect it. Now I'll be just waiting for my PD to be current.
Also, I've noticed that a lof of people have posted that they have paid hundreds of dollars for the medical exam. Guys, shop around - I live in the Dallas area and I have paid $65 for the medical exam ($55 for the civil surgeon exam and $10 vaccine transfer fee), I thought that was pretty cheap based on what I read on many forums. The staff was very knowledgeable and nice.
Thank you for your responses. I went to the doctor today and he said that I had no reaction to the TB test. Great news! i guess the fact that I had the BCG 10 years ago did not affect it. Now I'll be just waiting for my PD to be current.
Also, I've noticed that a lof of people have posted that they have paid hundreds of dollars for the medical exam. Guys, shop around - I live in the Dallas area and I have paid $65 for the medical exam ($55 for the civil surgeon exam and $10 vaccine transfer fee), I thought that was pretty cheap based on what I read on many forums. The staff was very knowledgeable and nice.
Thx Doc.
Appreciate the info.