X-rays needed for new work permit

[gerrythepoet]

Got informed by another teacher that a teacher in his department was required to get x-rays done for TB.

Is this now the case that at the hospital one needs the doctor's certificate and the syphilis tesT, blood group and now TB?

[Scott]

That's what I had to get, along with a drug screening test (methamphetamines--I believe).

[lostinisaan]

That's what I had to get, along with a drug screening test (methamphetamines--I believe).

Had that before, a Chinese looking and very young female doctor at the Sapphasit hospital in Ubon R.

She said to me that the biggest drug problem in Thailand would be speed, and therefore wanted to test me on amphetamines.

Then an X-ray, plus a few other things that only cost money. It was the doctor who'd made the decision, not coming from the labor department.

Just went to my local hospital, did the ordinary 50 baht check, added a syphilis test, which took about 50 minutes, then ready to go.

It's not just the wasted money, it'as also a lot of wasted time. Scott, I hope you were positive.

I mean that you had a positive result, which would be negative in this case.

Somebody could be hooked up on heroin, suffering of Hep. C, D, E....plus Aids, but healthy? C'mon.

The hub of Syphilis tested foreigners?

[stubuzz]

Private hospitals will try and push you for the X-ray and full blood work. Just tell them it's for a work permit and it's not needed.

[SlyAnimal]

The clinics I went to for mine would usually check my blood pressure and pulse, but that'd be it.

That was in the countryside though, city clinics/hospitals might want to be a bit more thorough though.

[Towzak]

I'm pretty sure its the Labour Office that request a medical when you go through the WP process. In my case the local office request that you get a x-ray for TB in addition to all the other tests on their list and they have to be taken every year. For me its about 600 B and although the school will foot the WP bill they wont cough up for the medical fee...even though its part of the WP process. Mai pen rai.

[smileplur]

You don't need an X-ray to determine if you have TB. Go to another clinic. Problem solved!

[Kf6vci]

I'm speechless!

My last doctor's exams took maybe 2 minutes. No blood test or x-rays ever!

30 Baht or similarly low amount in clinics and a private GP's practice.

While I would accept, whatever they rule (why not add hair analysis for cocaine users), I want the same procedure for each and every foreign teacher. And Thai teachers, TBH. Same strokes for different folks. How would that be?!?

Met a few Thai teachers who were stinko at 8 am, reeking of booze... Just saying, because the whole school or anyone who came within a meter of these men would have smelled it.

[brubakertx]

Go to a small clinic. Cost me 80 baht, and just checked my blood pressure and weight. They did not test me for syphilis, but they signed off for me not having it...I guess my big smile counts as a syphilis test.

If you go to a hospital, it will cost more, and they will test you.

Question: Why do they want a syphilis test done, but not a HIV test and drug test? Sounds crazy to me

[lostinisaan]

Go to a small clinic. Cost me 80 baht, and just checked my blood pressure and weight. They did not test me for syphilis, but they signed off for me not having it...I guess my big smile counts as a syphilis test.

If you go to a hospital, it will cost more, and they will test you.

Question: Why do they want a syphilis test done, but not a HIV test and drug test? Sounds crazy to me

Please be aware that the labor department issues the tests. They do have the requirements in English now, but I've lost it through a malfunctioning hard drive.

The decision if a drug test will be done, is up to the doctor.

Most labor departments want the syphilis test. Easy to do at any private hospitals for about 150 baht.

Your "big" smile doesn't have anything to do with it, as they usually want a laboratory test result document.

Question: Why do people buy cows, if they only want to drink some milk? Sounds weird to me.

Edited July 10, 2014 by lostinisaan

[buzzz51]

Just got a new work permit, my medical to all of 5 mins, the Dr asked if i was well, he looked in my eyes and at my fingernails, medical complete, cert issued, work permit in hand two weeks ago............

[arjunadawn]

You don't need an X-ray to determine if you have TB. Go to another clinic. Problem solved!

What do you need then "to determine if you have TB?"

[smileplur]

A small prick on the arm for a reaction will do the trick ...

[Bkk123456]

You don't need an X-ray to determine if you have TB. Go to another clinic. Problem solved!

What do you need then "to determine if you have TB?"

A lung specialist at Bumrungrad hospital told me that a blood test is not a test for TB, he said there was no way you could detect TB from such a test.

An X-Ray would show signs of TB and that is why for the UK visa application an applicant has to produce an X-Ray from a designated hospital.

I know about TB from first hand experience and was concerned about the blood until this doctor told me not to worry about the blood work.

I had TB and the blood test came back clean!

[lostinisaan]

A small prick on the arm for a reaction will do the trick ...

But won't make the "misses" happy then....

[Scott]

Well, I went to two different places and got told the same thing. I was told the hospital was required to do the drug screening and TB Xray. The form it was on was written in Thai, but it was for gov't medical certificates. The syphilis test was separate and on a separate paper.

But that was in Bangkok.

[arjunadawn]

You don't need an X-ray to determine if you have TB. Go to another clinic. Problem solved!

What do you need then "to determine if you have TB?"

A lung specialist at Bumrungrad hospital told me that a blood test is not a test for TB, he said there was no way you could detect TB from such a test.

An X-Ray would show signs of TB and that is why for the UK visa application an applicant has to produce an X-Ray from a designated hospital.

I know about TB from first hand experience and was concerned about the blood until this doctor told me not to worry about the blood work.

I had TB and the blood test came back clean!

Well, sorry if my question appears coy; it may have been. I regret a "lung specialist" inferred this. A blood test for TB does detect exposure or presence of TB antigen. There's multiple stages to determine if there is TB or TB exposure, which are not the same thing. Public health policy is based on the greatest reliability in diagnostics, for the greatest amount of people, cost effectively.

If a person has even been exposed to TB they will produce a characteristic antibody. A skin test or related has been traditionally used and it's design triggers a local reaction indicating TB antibody present. But someone could have been exposed yet never gotten TB. Sure, they could do a blood test and this would definitely rule out if the skin test was a false positive, but more commonly a chest X-Ray is ordered. The X-Ray has been determined to be significantly reliable in cost effective determining TB presence. If negative X-ray yet positive other findings, they can do blood work that may determine further characteristics of Antibody- conversion, etc. they can go quite deep. The goal is first public health then individual health, whether exposed or carrier, whether infected or remission.

BTW- I understand your blood test came back negative. Not all tests are 100% reliable. Still, they have graduated testing to balance diagnosis with public health and finances. They are often useful tools. Edited July 10, 2014 by arjunadawn

[Thighlander]

Did you indicate that you were a smoker? I thought the x-ray, would be for those, whose "prick" didn't heal properly. I got the med certificate in Washington DC, and just told the guy I had had one within the last two years, but the school district kept the report, since they paid. I had tried to get one at the local public health clinic, but they are completely uncooperative on filling out external forms. You get their certificate, that's it. I still had to pay 55 usd for the stamp in DC. In the more proper suburbs, a full physical is required and can run 300 USD. Basically, the doctor is signing off that you are in good mental and physical health.

[Arma]

A small prick on the arm for a reaction will do the trick ...

Actually, this works for people who don't have TB AND have never been in contact with a person who does have TB. Unfortunately, for those who have been in contact with someone that has TB (even if they do not know it), the needle-in-the-forearm test might show a positive result - even though the tested person does not have TB. That is why doctors do the xray - to screen out false positives.

[Kf6vci]

Go to a small clinic. Cost me 80 baht, and just checked my blood pressure and weight. They did not test me for syphilis, but they signed off for me not having it...I guess my big smile counts as a syphilis test.

If you go to a hospital, it will cost more, and they will test you.

Question: Why do they want a syphilis test done, but not a HIV test and drug test? Sounds crazy to me

Really? I went to a large clinic and it was still 30 B and only my weight, the BP was noted by nurses and then the doc listened to my heard for a few seconds.

No disclaimer regarding STDs or anything.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Just did the WP renewal. Nothing on the list of requirements saying have to do an Xray.

[Thighlander]

btw, they only have to certify that it isn't "stage 2 Syphilis." If it is just plain Syphilis; you are good to go. Seems like even though you could get a false positive with the prick; that would be better than getting radiation every time you applied for a school job.

[Scott]

I think you are getting mixed up between the Tuberculosis X-ray and skin test and the Syphilis test, which requires a blood test, not an X-ray.