amc

UK TB Screening section of amc, Islamabad will be relocated to Building 14, Civic Center (Melody) G 6 Markaz Islamabd from 16 october 2023. Please make note of this change of address.

TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING FOR UK VISA APPLICANTS


All individual intending to stay in the UK for more than six months are required to undergo TB screening test. Applicants 11 years or older will be required to have chest x ray taken. Any abnormality in the chest x ray suggestive of past or current pulmonary TB shall be confirmed with sputum smears and sputum cultures. In some instances sputum smears and cultures can be done as the first line of investigation where chest x ray is not possible.
Children under 18 years of age can only be screened if accompanied by a parent/guardian. Document (FRC) will be required to establish the relationship.
Applicants under the age of 11 will undergo a medical examination by the physician before a certificate is issued.
The screening test is performed in accordance with the technical instructions issued by the UK home office and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Medical center cannot advise or omit any test mentioned in the guidelines provided by the UK home office and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
For applicants been advised sputum test will have to comply within in 7 days of the advice otherwise TB clearance certificate will not be issued. The NO SHOW cases cannot have a fresh medical examination nor can have sputum examination before 6 months until the medical center receives authorization from the UK Home Office.
The TB clearance certificate validity is 6 months for the applicants with normal chest x ray and for children with no evidence of TB disease.
Applicant having contact with a known case of active TB patient will have TB clearance certificate validity of only 3 months. If an applicant has been advised sputum examination, the accompanying members will receive certificate with a validity of 3 months from the date of examination.
Pregnancy Test may be advised for the female applicants who are not sure of their condition. This may be either a Urine Test or a Blood Test as deemed necessary by the examining doctor.
Children under 11 years of age will normally not require chest X ray. This age group will be examined by a doctor to assess any signs or symptoms of TB disease. In case of any suspicion chest x-ray may be advised to rule out evidence of pulmonary TB.
Exemption:
The following criteria applies to the individuals who may not be screened for TB.
1. Diplomats joining office in the UK.
2. UK residents returning in less than 2 years of their stay in Pakistan.

DO I NEED TO TAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Only applicants with a valid appointment date and time shall be entertained at the medical center on the day of the appointment. If for any reason you have missed out on the appointment, you are encouraged to re-schedule your appointment on a later date. This can be done by yourself online or by contacting the medical center. While taking the appointment please make sure you are choosing the correct name of the city where you would like to have the test conducted.

WHAT TO BRING

1. All applicants must appear in person for the examination
2. Original Valid Passport
3. Two coloured photocopies of the passport data page.
4. 3 coloured passport size photographs with front face and neutral expression without glasses on a white background. The picture should not be more than six months old and should be liking of your current appearance. Fore head ears and chin should be clearly visible.
5. Complete address in the UK
6. Old chest x-ray films not less than 6 months prior to the medical examination (if available)
7. Detailed medical certificate regarding a previously-treated or currently managed Tuberculosis disease, which should contain the following information:
  a. Duration and date of treatment
  b. Name and dose of the medicines
  c. Complete final diagnosis
  d. Outcome of the treatment or treatment plans and prognosis, if available
8. Students are required to provide with the full address of the University in the UK.
9. After receiving confirmation of appointment, you may complete the medical history form and submit it online or bring a print out on the day of the appointment. This will save you time and inconvenience. Click here to fill the form.
10. Fee for medical examination in Pak Rupees or in Pounds sterling. The preferred method of payment is either by credit or debit card.
11. Copy of appointment confirmation email.

WHAT NOT TO BRING

All applicants are requested not to bring any large bags or wear unnecessary jewellery on the day of medical examination. Any accompanying person with the applicant may not be allowed in the medical center. Please do not bring along with you any other person as an attendant or escort. Only those applicants requiring special assistance are allowed one attendant to accompany them in the medical center.

For Pregnant Females

Pregnant females can avail one of the following options.
1. Have the chest x ray taken with a double wrap around lead apron, shielding abdomen.
2. Give samples for sputum smears and sputum cultures on 3 consecutive days. This test takes 8 weeks to process. Clearance certificate can only be issued once negative smear and culture report is received.
3. Wait till after the child birth.

WHEN DO I GET THE REPORT

NORMAL X RAY CERTIFICATE CAN ONLY BE DELIVERED AFTER 48 TO 72 HOURS FROM THE DATE OF EXAMINATION. PLEASE DO NOT INSIST FOR URGENT DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES.
Applicants with findings suggestive of past or current evidence of Tuberculosis according to the instructions of the UK Home Office, will be required to provide sputum samples for smears and cultures on 3 consecutive days. This can take 8 weeks to receive the test results. Clearance certificate for such applicants can only be issued after receiving the negative results.


WHY I HAVE BEEN ADVISED SPUTUM TEST?

Pulmonary Tuberculosis is a communicable disease. This spreads from one person to another. The germs of TB may linger in body for a very long time that may become active at any stage of life. Some people may be infected by this disease but never develop any symptoms. Some people may develop symptoms like fever, unexplained cough for more than 2 weeks, weight loss and night sweats. If this disease attacks lungs it causes scarring of the lung tissue. This scarring is often picked up on the chest x ray. The x rays are reviewed and reported by the radiologist of the host country. Pakistan is one of the high burden countries with respect to pulmonary Tuberculosis. It is for this reason the host country requires that any abnormality suggesting old or active TB should be evaluated by Sputum smear and Sputum cultures on 3 consecutive days in early morning on empty stomach. The result of a negative test is only available after 8 weeks. There is no option but to wait for the sputum smear and culture results. You may read more about these guidelines by visiting the online pages of the country's visa medical examination information.
Under normal circumstances at any other doctor’s office, the x ray findings may not require sputum examination but host country’s guidelines are very clear to have this gold standard test done in all those cases where the chest x-ray is suggestive of any abnormality. This test rules out any active TB in the applicants before they travel to the intended country. The medical center cannot waive off this test for any reason and applicants are requested not to argue with the staff of the medical center in this regard.