TB TEST Concerns

Hi, I just want to share this Nickel experience when she have his TB test in Manila.
the case is, evenn if you have no TB but if they find other issues from previous cases not related to TB they would put your TB test on hold for 9-10 weeks, which is so much a waste of time . IOM seems to be another money making agency, Nickel was there and she saw 5 british spouses the same as her age, clearances were put on hold,,, that's another 8000pesos fee for the second medical Exam..

What do you think about it??
Who got the same problem?? 9-10weeks on hold their TB Test Result?>>

What "other issues" do they mean?

Hello Sheryl. Thanks for sharing. Can you be more specific on 'other issues' encountered at IOM? I didn't have a problem the first time I got there.

Was wanting to ask this thing here but i got a problem with posting, anyway. TB clearance should be released the same day right.Mine was not released due to , the result show a bit of abnormality on my left lung, so i was advised to have a sputum test for 3 days. and advised that they will let you know 2 weeks after if there is bacteria growth on it, if non, they will wait till the 8th week and see if there is growth.The sad part is, the doctor who read my Xray result just said that what he saw could be because of "past infection".And no other reading was stated, not even an advise to see a medical doctor when i get back home.So this means that there was no urgency on my case to seek for medical consult.I was so devastated because a week prior to my coming for the medical test, i did a local sputum test too, and i was negative, and of course based on my medical records and up to now i do not have any lung concerns.Anyway, what bothers me was not only the waiting period, it is understood that that is the ruling, because we signed an agreement prior to having the first xray.I am bothered by the concerns of other British wives there my age also, 50 and up having the same problems as mine.There was one there that her xray and lab test shows another concern, but not about TB, and it was not even contagious and yet she was there to have another test.I was surprised becoz, i thought it is only TB clearance.I was even told that they will yet see after the 9th week if there would be some development on the "abnormality they saw on my left lung". will see what will happen next but for sure i will be back to pay another 8k pesos for another round .
Well, of course when i came home i did my homework, i went to the best hospital in my city and talked to my doctor about it, so he ordered me to undergo another XRAY ....and here the result was NEGATIVE, not even THAT THING(ABNORMALITY ON THE LEFT LUNG) THAT WAS SEEN DURING XRAY AT IOM CLINIC was ever seen at my latest result.My doctor is 100% sure i do not have TB , nor any problem with my lungs, based on my laboratory test and Xray...WOW , HE SAID THAT WAS STUPID OF THEM to wait for 9 -10weeks for the result be made known to the client.And even my doctor friends here and in the US are saying thats too much waiting time.HOW IS THAT?HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

I find it obscure that why all of us British wives were asked to have another xray or was it just coincidence?I don't know if anyone had the same experience as mine?
sounds like money making agency ...but we cant do anything but abide!

Mmmmmm doesn't sound good at all

I was just wondering why do you have to pay Php8,000 since the TB test only costs Php3,200?

the first time is 3200, if they see any abnormality they will ask you for 3 succeeding sputum test procedure, and wait up to 9 weeks for any bacterial growth.This sounds so obscure..all the clinics and laboratories i had inquired about if how long the result would be released , says the longest is 7 days.Even top caliber Doctor i know in the USA , Dra.Czarina Acelajado says thats too long to wait, they can have the result in just 3 days, even on the same date you can have sputum result. Too bad we can't do anything but abide!
After the 9 weeks you are required to go back for another round of Xray, even if you turn out negative, or no bacterial growthin the course of the waiting period .They would again and would still require you to undergo another xray ..pay 8000 for that, so that they would know if the initial reading has worsen or not???????MY QUESTION IS, ISN'T IT A TB TEST WE PAID FOR, to get Clearance certificate??

the second round of medical exam cost 8000 pesos already.

Hi, i am in the same situation now and still waitng for the result for my sputum...did u go under medication for 6months?

no i did not.But the worst part of it is, you spend 2.5 months waiting for the result, then go back again to manila for another xray ..and if certificate be released, you will have 3.5 months clearance validity left .

My wife today had the same problem with her tb test.she needs to go back to iom for next 3 mornings for tests then wait 9 weeks for results but told her she is clear of tb but has problems with her lungs with her breathing.

sorry you had this setback Beano . my lady had to go through the 6 months TB treatment.--but--to get the final clear result--is another 2 month wait after the last sputum tests. so--in reality--its 8 months to get the TB cert if its a fail at the start.

Wait, do you only have to get the test in one clinic? If so, then this is regulated by the British embassy? Ergo, I will lodge a complaint to them if I feel they are doing something dodgy..

thanks Bigmac, ifs it only 9 weeks to wait i not mind has waited this long so far, has long has she get well i not mind.

So, in effect, the TB Test is not just screening for TB but also for other lung diseases as well as they won't give a TB Certificate even though someone is clear of TB but has other lung problems. I would like @Micawber 's take on that.

me too. my fiancee was discovered to have scoliosis. but that didnt influence the TB testing

I knew I have scoliosis long way before the test but it didn't show when I had my screening at IOM.

YES!just one clinic in Makati, nowhere else

UKVI state that:-
If your test shows that you don’t have TB, you’ll be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months. Include this certificate with your UK visa application.

If the clinic states abnormality but not consistent with TB then no further testing is required and the clearance certification should be issued.

Thanks for that Micawber, my missus thinks the doctor is just trying to get more money out of her, has when done 1 test he asks her to do other tests, has she told them she need for to please doctors at the IOM tb centrer. She has no signs of tb just irregular heart beats so taking beta blockers to slow it down.

The clinic should only be making suggestions for referral. There's no reason why she needs to accept treatment or advice just to please them.

She should be taking advice from a trusted Doctor (her own regular Doc) when it comes to beta blockers.