Your Experiences of the TB Screening Process

[BenRicca]

Hi guys and gals

Would like to know your own personal experiences of the TB screening process at the IOM Health Centre in Manila.

My wife will go there for her TB screening, and my stepson (8 years old) for his interview, as is required for their UK visa application.

They are traveling from Palawan, and I would like to make it as a day trip rather than overnight, and as seamless as possible for them. I'd like to know:

How long does the screening process take?

Can they get the results the same day?

What do they ask the children in interviews, and if they feel he also must be scanned, will it be done that same day?

Would my wifes NBI clearance be accepted for ID? My wife's passport is currently not available.

Any advice on the process would be greatly appreciated

[sars_notd_virus]

Hi guys and gals

Would like to know your own personal experiences of the TB screening process at the IOM Health Centre in Manila.

My wife will go there for her TB screening, and my stepson (8 years old) for his interview, as is required for their UK visa application.

They are traveling from Palawan, and I would like to make it as a day trip rather than overnight, and as seamless as possible for them. I'd like to know:

How long does the screening process take?

Can they get the results the same day?

What do they ask the children in interviews, and if they feel he also must be scanned, will it be done that same day?

Would my wife's NBI clearance be accepted for ID? My wife's passport is currently not available.

Any advice on the process would be greatly appreciated


Your wife needs to call (IOM) for appointment it opens as early as 7am.

She needs two valid ID's one: needs to be left downstairs before she queue for the elevator/lift going to the main center of TB testing and 2nd: the passport of the applicants who wants to settle abroad.

It will not be done in one day - especially for your wife as they need to screen her - but your 8 year old son might get his certificate as soon as he been physically assessed by the GP.

I took my eight year old daughter last April for the interview and believe me it's a nightmare process, firstly because minors should not be in the same rooms as all of the adult applicants who might have had a contagious disease :doh

Anyway, good luck and please don't expect a good and quick result in one day.

[mrsmccann]

Sars is right. If ur wife doesn't have a passport pls try to contact the centre at 883-933 or 511-8770 for mobile phones 0917-5934688 for globe or 0919-993-4667 for Smart and enquire what other proof u need to show if no passport.

I took 2 valid IDs, passport and birth certificate coz they needed those.

If ur wife goes there early, so much the better. I arrived at the Centre 7am. Got #1UK priority no. They did my x-ray twice (around 7.45am & 10.45am) to double check my result, but I was cleared. Got my certificate before 2pm and went straight to airport to catch a flight back to Cebu. Normally Test Certificate will be out within 3 hours but that depends on how busy the Centre is.

Hope that will help.

Good luck! :smile:

[BenRicca]

:xxgrinning--00xx3: Thanks for the replies..


I Arrived at the Centre 7am. Got #1UK priority no. They did my x-ray twice (around 7.45am & 10.45am) to double check my result, but I was cleared.

#1UK priority no.??..could you explain the appointment procedure please. I thought it was a case of booking an appointment over the phone. Is it a case of first come first served? Also is that normal procedure to have two x-rays? And did you only pay once?

Thanks

[mrsmccann]

Hi BenRicca,

Gud day.

Oh yes, coz they also cater Canada applicants. Pls ring the nos mentioned earlier then book ur appointment. Same with my experience the family after me they booked for 10am but they arrived there very early so they got the priority number available when they arrived at the centre.

Having two x-rays is not normal - only if they want to clarify something like in my situation the result is not very clear.

I paid once for that. The procedure is pretty straightforward. Just sit and wait for ur number to be called with ur last name. Then just follow the instructions given by staff.

I guess they only accept cash payments. Kindly clarify this when booking ur appointment with ur other concerns. Good luck :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Slip]

Can I book online for the TB test....

My wife is trying to book it in Manila over the phone, but the lines are down... she has text me to make the appointment for her, but can't find an online option.

[Doc Alan]

The usual procedure for chest x-ray is to take two views of the chest, one from the back and the other from the side of the body as the patient stands against the image recording plate. The x-rays are immediately available, but of course require a medical specialist radiologist for interpretation. Additional views may be required within hours – either for technical reasons, or to evaluate any abnormalities seen.


If TB is suspected ( based on symptom enquiry and chest x-rays ), sputum ( spit ) is required for microscopic examination and culture, which takes several weeks. If TB is confirmed, further chest x-rays will be needed during / after completion of treatment. Only after successful completion of treatment can the patient proceed to visa application.


I don’t have personal knowledge of contacting the approved clinic in Makati to book an appointment. The International Organisation for Migration does have an email address : mhc.uk@iom.int.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-test-for-a-uk-visa-clinics-in-the-philippines/tuberculosis-testing-in-the-philippines

[Anne2014]

In my case, I booked the appointment online a week ahead at 2PM and got the results at 5pm. A friend told me to send an e-mail rather than calling IOM because according to her, phone lines are always busy.

[Anne2014]

By the way, IOM responds to your e-mail within 2-3 days..

[Slip]

In my case, I booked the appointment online a week ahead at 2PM and got the results at 5pm. A friend told me to send an e-mail rather than calling IOM because according to her, phone lines are always busy.

Thanks, I sent an email off earlier... So hopefully will hear in a few days... I also text the numbers to my wife that are on the website, just incase she manages to get through.

[Anne2014]

Thanks, I sent an email off earlier... So hopefully will hear in a few days... I also text the numbers to my wife that are on the website, just incase she manages to get through.

Let us know if you successfully booked at IOM and if you got any questions or problems. :smile:

[robbie bobby]

Thanks, I sent an email off earlier... So hopefully will hear in a few days... I also text the numbers to my wife that are on the website, just incase she manages to get through.

Slip...We booked my wife'S TB screening by email and they gave us a range of times.They also told us if we get there earlier than the appointment they would fit us in which they DID end up doing as my wife got there over 2 hours earlier which was good!

[Slip]

Slip...We booked my wife'S TB screening by email and they gave us a range of times.They also told us if we get there earlier than the appointment they would fit us in which they DID end up doing as my wife got there over 2 hours earlier which was good!



Ok, great news.... When I speak to my wife later I will see if she got through on the phone yet, if not I'll tell her to wait until I get a reply from the email

[Anne2014]

Slip...We booked my wife'S TB screening by email and they gave us a range of times.They also told us if we get there earlier than the appointment they would fit us in which they DID end up doing as my wife got there over 2 hours earlier which was good!

I agree with you Robbie Bobby. It's better to be as early as 2 hours before the appointment. Was confident that I was checked in to a hotel nearby. The funny thing happened was I almost got lost! A friend gave me instructions that the building has different international flags outside and there's a 7'11 store at the corner. And Lo and behold, almost every establishment has international flags and 7'11 stores in every corner of the streets in Makati! So much on relying on Google map. :doh
By the end of the day, I still managed to locate IOM an hour before the appointment. My target time is 2 hours before.
Anyway, I get used to getting lost and I just charged it to experience. At least I got something to share about when I went home. :biggrin:

[Slip]

Just heard from my wife, her doctor has told her she is not allowed to have the x ray for the TB test due to being in the first trimester of pregnancy. She is only allowed the sputum test.

Is this allowed? And how long do the results take?

[Doc Alan]

The most common x-rays - looking at teeth, chest and limbs – involve relatively small amounts of radiation and deliver a dose equivalent to just a few days’ exposure to natural background sources. They are safe, although it’s good practice to take as few x-rays as possible ( NHS doctors apparently order half as many x-rays as their American colleagues and a third of those requested in Japan ).


Chest x-rays for TB don’t include the pelvis, so the radiation dose that the developing baby would receive is much lower than that received from radiation that exists naturally in the environment (http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_hiw_10
).


Although chest x-rays are not the only test involved in screening for TB, I doubt a TB test certificate could be issued without them.


A sputum ( spit ) test would only be required if there were clinical signs and symptoms, such as a productive cough. Indeed, with no symptoms it would be hard to obtain. The requirements state " If the x-ray is inconclusive, you may be asked to give a sputum sample ... There may be an additional fee … and results can take up to 2 months to process ". This is not just bureaucracy :NoNo: ! Sputum samples need to be specially stained for the TB " bug ", then examined by microscopy. They also need to be " cultured ", which takes 4 – 8 weeks because the bugs grow slowly. If bugs are seen, there may be a further 4 weeks’ delay to test for the correct antibiotics.


There are more rapid ( but expensive ) tests on sputum and / or blood for TB, but at present the only way to get a test certificate is from the one approved test clinic in Makati City. The consent form for the TB testing does state that " the clinician’s decision is final ". But it’s at least worthwhile questioning their decision, armed with accurate information :xxgrinning--00xx3:!

[Slip]

Thanks Doc


Quick question, seeing we have to wait possibly a couple of months for the result, can we still submit the visa application? that way it speeds things up and we won't be waiting for another two months or so before we can submit it

[Doc Alan]

Quick question, seeing we have to wait possibly a couple of months for the result, can we still submit the visa application? that way it speeds things up and we won't be waiting for another two months or so before we can submit it


I understand your frustration, especially as your wife looks healthy and hopefully doesn't have TB.

It does state that " ... if you are resident in the Philippines and would like to apply for a visa to come to the UK for more than 6 months you must be tested at an approved clinic and be free from tuberculosis before you apply for a visa. You will be required to submit a TB certificate with your visa application ".


The best option would be if the clinic doctor can be persuaded to perform the chest x-ray examination, with a satisfactory result and no problems with the clinical history / examination.


Best wishes and please let us know the outcome :xxgrinning--00xx3:.

[Slip]

Apparently her doctor advised her against the x ray and said if she wants it she has to sign a waiver to say it was against doctors advice!

[Doc Alan]

Apparently her doctor advised her against the x ray and said if she wants it she has to sign a waiver to say it was against doctors advice!

Of course you can't just take my word for this, and the decision whether or not to sign a waiver is for your wife and yourself.

Here's another link, from " NHS Choices ", which may help. It says " The doses of radiation used during an X-ray aren't thought to pose a risk to an unborn baby. However, as a precaution, X-rays that directly target the womb ( abdominal X-rays ) aren't usually recommended unless there's a clear clinical need ".

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/X-ray/Pages/Risks.aspx

[Slip]

Going for the Sputum test, it is done over the course of three days.. Couldn't do it this week so she is going Mon, Tue and Weds next week.... Then we have to wait 8-9 weeks for the result....
And what with her due to give birth mid Feb, it is touch and go if the visa will be approved before and she will be allowed to travel....
I only live in a one bedroom place, and although I meet the financial requirements, I do not believe they will approve Harlene and a baby to live in it.... That is why it is pretty important to me they arrived before she gives birth!

[will1927]

Ben,

The best advice I can give you is...if you and your wife are travelling any distance to Manila, get your wife to have a TB chest x-ray in Palawan. this can be done in any general hospital which has a Pulmonology Dept. at a cost of about 500 peso. If there is any problems, you can have them sorted out before you go to the IOM.....if your wife just turns up at the IOM and there is a problem, they will expect your wife to come back the next week for 3 day sputum test, also each xray at the IOM is about £50.....and if there is a problem, they will give her 2 xrays, front and rear.

My wife has to go back again, as her TB test has run out now, we will be doing the above, we spent almost £500 on x-rays,sputum test and a skin test, and when she got her clearance certificate, it was from the date she started her sputum test 13 weeks not 6 months. This would have been ok for us if we had our kids' UK passports and we could have submitted our visa application on that day..but due to the passport office delays for overseas 1st passports, we could not file application

The IOM is a money-grabbing cash cow. There seemed to be a lot of people who had to go back for sputum tests due to chest infections, scarring, shadows and nodules etc. on there lungs. The IOM will not give you any medical advice.

Hope that helps

Will

[Terpe]

.....My wife has to go back again, as her TB test has run out now

Have you checked this out UKVI ??

Last time I asked (just a couple of months ago) UKVI stated that the TB certificate could be expired but still valid for UK entry.
Their statement was the TB certificate needs to be valid at time of application to show that the applicant is free from TB. But doesn’t need to be renewed before travel to the UK.

[jasper999]

They didn't check Jen's TB certificate on entry in June of this year.

[will1927]

Hi Terpe..

The problem is her TB clearance certificate runs out on the 6th Aug, on the visa4uk website, where it says dependent, it requires passport number for my kids...that's what's holding up the visa application.

Terpe, I did read about the expired TB certificate on entry in to the UK on the forum, and that was our plan as well..

Will

[Slip]

Got some good news today....But equally frustrating!

Harlene has just got back from her month in Manila and on her return went to see her OB who was the one who gave the second opinion and refused to let Harlene do the xray for the TB test. Anyway she went for her check up today and discussed with the doctor about signing her off to fly should she get the visa in early January (baby due 15th February) The doctor said she would only let her fly until 7 months pregnant (mid Dec) so when Harlene explained that she wouldn't be able to come to England then before the baby is due, due to the wait for the Sputum test (October) The Doctor then changed her mind and said she would allow Harlene to have the screening as long as she wore a lead apron (which is standard anyway!)
So now we are going to pay out more for the screening. But as Harlene has only just traveled the 10 hours home I have told her I do not want her doing it until she is going back to Manila in 3 weeks time to pick up her passport.

So if all goes well we will submit the visa and make an appointment at VFS for the first week in September (one month later than originally planned before the Sputum test, but one month earlier then we thought after the test.

Then it is all in the hands of the powers that be. I may even have to take a flight to manila to pick Harlene up and then fly back a couple of days later with her

[Doc Alan]

Thanks for updating us, and renewed best wishes to Harlene and yourself :smile: