Alexis, I understand you and your husband are upset at this delay, especially as you’re not sick and don’t have a history of TB.


As you know, since the end of February this year, TB testing is part of the visa application process for people planning to come to the UK for over 6 months ( http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/co...?langname=null
).

It states in the link that :-

If you have the standard test your results and certificate should be available in 24 hours. If the test results are inconclusive you may be required to take a sputum test (phlegm coughed up from your lungs), the results from this test can take up to 2 months to process and there may be an additional charge. If you do not have tuberculosis you will be given a certificate, which you should submit with your visa application. The certificate is usually valid for 6 months.


You will not be issued with a certificate if you have been diagnosed with tuberculosis. The clinician will give you advice about treatment and provide you with a treatment referral letter. Treatment can take up to 6 months to complete. You will not be able to apply for a UK visa until you can show you have had treatment for tuberculosis and you are free from the disease.


There is plenty information on TB elsewhere on the Forum; see Immigration and Health Issues sections.


While I don’t know you personally, it’s unlikely, in my opinion, that you do have TB. I think your test centre had no choice but to require sputum testing, as you had a cough and cold on the day of your chest X-ray.



The chest X-ray is the main test for TB, but not the only one. It’s necessary to have a full clinical history and examination by the doctor at the test centre, as TB may not just affect the lungs. The doctor needs to know if you have been vaccinated ( BCG ; which doesn’t guarantee 100% protection ), and may require a skin test ( Mantoux ). Blood tests ( IGRA / Xpert MTB/RIF test ) are also becoming available, which might be used instead of ( or as well as ) sputum tests, to give a more rapid diagnosis.


If there are symptoms such as coughing with sputum production, then sputum sample(s) do need to be tested.


The sample(s) are examined under the microscope for the TB bug ( Mycobacterium tuberculosis ). This needs a special stain ( Ziehl-Neelsen ) ; but even if someone has TB, the bugs can be very elusive to see. Negative direct microscopy doesn’t rule out TB.


The sputum needs to be “ cultured “ to allow any TB bugs to grow. Unfortunately they grow slowly, so it takes several weeks before they can be examined. “ Ten weeks “ – as you were told – is the maximum time ( six weeks would be more usual ). If positive, it could then take a further month or so to make sure which antibiotics to use. ( If there were clinical signs of TB, treatment could be started before the culture results ).



If, as expected in your case, culture for TB bugs is negative, and you have no symptoms, with a normal original chest X-ray, I wouldn’t expect a further X-ray would be necessary. The decision would, however, be up to the doctor at the centre.