RFE for SKIN Test

[srarao]

Hi All,
My skin test was positive, where as my x-ray was normal.Incase I get an RFE , Can I go to my PCP or need to go only to local health dept.

Can some body guide me
-Srarao
$100-so far

[srarao]

Can somebody let me know

[sunny1000]

It was a false positive and your x-ray confirmed it. Your doctor would have given the appropriate determination in the I-693 sealed envelope. If you still get a RFE, follow the instructions and go to the USCIS approved doctor near you.

[srarao]

I read some posts and they say we need to go to local heath dept.If some one has exp ,I just wanted their suggestion

[meridiani.planum]

Hi All,
My skin test was positive, where as my x-ray was normal.Incase I get an RFE , Can I go to my PCP or need to go only to local health dept.

Can some body guide me
-Srarao
$100-so far

that is typically not an issue. lot of people (Esp from India) get a +ve on the skin test because of reaction with the BCG vaccine that they received in childhood. You will most likely not even get an RFE as USCIS knows about this.
If by chance you do, I believe you can go to a USCIS certified doctor (where you probably got those tests done) and he would prescribe some medication. You just send that report back, and you are all set.

[talash]

Positive PPD just means u are exposed to TB is the past ans CXR confirms that u dont have active disease .Treatment in this case is only optional and patient has to decide if he or she wants to be treated for that .Only people with HIV of other immune def dieases must be treated for pos PPD.
they should not ask any further qquestions if CXR ws negative .

[srarao]

Hi
Any guys with RFE on this

[InTheMoment]

srarao,

Why would you get a RFE when you have done the skin test AND a subsequent chest x-ray ?

The only case that I read where a person got an RFE was when he had done the skin which was positive and inspite of the chest x-ray being negative.
The RFE he got was because the doctor unneccesarily made a note on the I-693 that a medication course is recommended.

Hi
Any guys with RFE on this

[TexasGC]

Why does USCIS want TB test done? Many countries like India have BCG vaccination administered at childhood thus preventing TB. However, such people will show a false positive if administered a skin test for TB.

This is causing many Indians to go for a chest xray. I feel this is a ridiculous requirement.

[kutra]

Why does USCIS want TB test done? Many countries like India have BCG vaccination administered at childhood thus preventing TB. However, such people will show a false positive if administered a skin test for TB.

This is causing many Indians to go for a chest xray. I feel this is a ridiculous requirement.

True, however...

USCIS SOP clearly states that a TB SKin test is required. Last year during the July fiasco, I remember Murthy had an article that said if you ONLY submit a chest x-ray, you will still get a RFE (despite chest x-ray being normal) for not performing the skin test.

Ironical, isn't it, how and why the IOs suddenly decide to go by the book! FIFIO is also a part of the SOP, but you know the rest... ...!

[kevinkris]

Open this thread in case if you get it..


Hi All,
My skin test was positive, where as my x-ray was normal.Incase I get an RFE , Can I go to my PCP or need to go only to local health dept.

Can some body guide me
-Srarao
$100-so far

[Dhundhun]

Hi All,
My skin test was positive, where as my x-ray was normal.Incase I get an RFE , Can I go to my PCP or need to go only to local health dept.

Can some body guide me
-Srarao
$100-so far

For people from India, skin test is usually positive and x-ray normal. No one gets RFE for that.

Why they should give you RFE? Is there any hidden message, which I am unable to makeout from your post?

[saileshdude]

In rare cases RFE has been issued. My doc also wrote that I need to follow-up with my PCP for INH treatment on my medical form. I visited my PCP and they sent me to a Infectious Disease specialist. The ID specialist said that there is no urgency for treatment although it is recommended to have the treatment. But said I can my take my own time to think if I need to go through the treatment.
Asked what if USCIS sends an RFE, the ID said that they usually do not ask for it for younger people but for someone over 50 , they may ask. In any case he said if I received any RFE he was willing to provide me a letter that INH treatment is not urgently needed.

[mhtanim]

In rare cases RFE has been issued. My doc also wrote that I need to follow-up with my PCP for INH treatment on my medical form. I visited my PCP and they sent me to a Infectious Disease specialist. The ID specialist said that there is no urgency for treatment although it is recommended to have the treatment. But said I can my take my own time to think if I need to go through the treatment.
Asked what if USCIS sends an RFE, the ID said that they usually do not ask for it for younger people but for someone over 50 , they may ask. In any case he said if I received any RFE he was willing to provide me a letter that INH treatment is not urgently needed.

You actually have active TB? Or you are saying your TB skin test came out positive as you had BCG?

If you had given BCG and your skin test came positive, that's very normal. If your doctor here wants to treat you because your skin test came positive although your chest x-ray is clear, then you probably should change your doctor.

[srarao]

Hi all,
In this forums only I saw some guys getting RFE's that is why I opened in this thread.

[saileshdude]

You actually have active TB? Or you are saying your TB skin test came out positive as you had BCG?

If you had given BCG and your skin test came positive, that's very normal. If your doctor here wants to treat you because your skin test came positive although your chest x-ray is clear, then you probably should change your doctor.

mhtanim,

My skin test was positive but chest x-ray was negative. As far as changing the doctor goes, this doctor is actually the USCIS doctor who I went to during last July 2007 fiasco. At that time of rush I did not bother on what he wrote on the medical forms. Even though I had negative x-ray , he wrote I need to follow up with my primary care for INH treatment.

Also with regards to BCG vaccine , the skin test comes positive only within 10 years after BCG is given. If you still have a reaction after 10 years then that means that you have a passive TB and it is recommended that you get it treated. I had a long conversation with an Infectious Disease specialist and he mentioned that there is no urgency to start the treatment because of age factor. So if there is a doctor you know who says that you do not need to be treated even after 10 years of taking the BCG , then probably you should change your doctor for the sake of your own health.

[panky72]

Also with regards to BCG vaccine , the skin test comes positive only within 10 years after BCG is given. If you still have a reaction after 10 years then that means that you have a passive TB and it is recommended that you get it treated. I had a long conversation with an Infectious Disease specialist and he mentioned that there is no urgency to start the treatment because of age factor. So if there is a doctor you know who says that you do not need to be treated even after 10 years of taking the BCG , then probably you should change your doctor for the sake of your own health.

I second that. For more info on the subject please see this link which details the link between BCG and positive skin test in layman language.
http://www.pamf.org/patients/bcg_ppd.html

[srarao]

Hello,
When I first took my medical tests for I-485 with a doctor, the doctor put an additional document stating that: "I have a positive PPD that was read as 9mm of induration. A NORMAL chest x-ray was read. The patient is refered to their PCP or County Health Department for evaluation and possible treatment with INH for 9 months".

Now I received the RFE from CIS asking for the following:

"The form I-693 submitted is hereby returned because you TB test results were not documented appropriately. Additional documentation submitted from Civil Surgeon indicates that you were possibly being refered to the County Health Department for evaluation and have received teh follow up treatment.
The I-693 form must be properly endorsed by Civil Surgeon to reflect the following:

-> The date you first refered to the local health dept for evaluation
-> Name and address of the health dept
-> results of the X-ray and other TB test
-> Based on which you are medically cleared for adjustment status
"
If anyone had similar experiences, please let me know how to proceed on this issue.

PS: I got very late appointment with County Health department, so If I go to a private TB specialist and If I take the results to the original doctor and can he able to update my I-693 based on the TB specialist results?
If I go on 9 month medication will CIS wait 9 months to further process my petition or hold my EAD status?
If I go to a new doctor and If he gives me a new set of medical results, will CIS overlook previous doctor's comments?
I dont have much time as I just had 20 days left to send back my results to CIS.

Thanks for yor help.
Ravi