The recent TB news on CNN and everywhere had caught my attention. When I came to US My university required TB test for all. I was tested Positive on Skin test and later they recommended X-ray of my chest. The chest X-ray was negative. However the health department suggested me to go under 9 months medication. It was voluntary. I went under 9 months long medication. After completing 9 months, department of health sent me a card indicating I went under mediaction.
It is mentioned in the card that after medication , the skin test will always be positive. I also know that such 'Dormant' type of TB is more common elsewhere especially from peole in asia and all continent.
Since I am on process of Green Card and a step of green card requires Tb test, I am worried if this might be a cause of denial. What is the chance of getting denial due to health case I mentioned above. Has anyone who received green card went under such situation?
I don't see anything to worry about. Even if your skin test result comes positive (that happens to majority of people even though they don't have TB), X-ray will show it negative anyway. In my green card medical test, i had positive skin test and the doctor took x-ray which showed it negative. I have already my green card with me. You will be just fine.
Hello aabha,
No need to get scared. When I went for my Green card medical exam the dotor told me that i had TB symtoms. Than he told me to do X-ray and it came out negative. But like you, I had to take 9 months medication. But I got my Green card 2 months after I did my medical check up.
So no need to get scared, this won't hamper your process.
No need to worry. Positive skin test + Negative chest x-ray=green card.
Most Nepalese these days may test positive for TB on skin test because we received BCG vaccine (against TB) in our childhood. But there is no way to differentiate the positive results due to immunity you have due to vaccination or the response to real infection on skin test. THE SKIN RESULTS LOOK THE SAME. Since TB most of the times shows up in the lungs, a chest X ray gives you a clear picture. So if you do not have clinical symptoms and are relatively healthy then you should not worry about it. Final results should be fine... Goodluck for GC.
(By the way US children do not receive this vaccine so Americans free of TB donot show positive results on skin test.)
If it could be a problem, you should have been sent back at that time. I heard that until you follow the Health Department Instructions, you are ok.
matter of fact, if you have a positive ppd once , you are almost certain to be positive for your lifetime . thats why when you know you are positive you should never have the test again because someitmes you can have bad skin reaction from the test itself. If i were you i would save that paper that says u were ppd positive and that u went thru 9 months of inh in a 'safebox' so that next time someone wants to test you for tb u can show that and you will get away just with a chest xray.
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