The Immigration Medical Examination is an important step in the entire immigration process in the United States of America. When one applies for a Green Card or when one wishes to go in for permanent residence the Immigration Medical Exam has to be taken, by the applicant and his family members. Two tests in this are very important and are mandatory. One is the test for tuberculosis; the other is a serological test.

Let us study what the Tuberculin test or TST is all about.

TUBERCULIN TEST:

All applicants who are of 2 years and above are required to go in for the tuberculin test in the Immigration Medical Examination. Even if the applicant is below 2 years but is suspected of the disease he or she could be asked to go in for a TB test. This is possible when the applicant comes with a history of contact, so the applicant may be asked to go in for a tuberculin test to rule out any doubts. Applicants are usually asked to go in for a tuberculin skin test, or what is called as TST.

Once the skin test is conducted the applicant will be asked to return to the USCIS-approved Civil Surgeon with the results, within 2 or 3 days. The USCIS Civil Surgeon is a physician specially appointed by USCIS, or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services who is authorized to conduct the Immigration Medical Exam. The applicant will have to visit the Civil Surgeon to have the results read.

If the reaction is 4 mm or less no further tests will be required for TB, unless the applicant displays signs or symptoms of TB or immuno-supression. A chest X-ray is required to be conducted for all applicants, including pregnant women, if the reaction to the TST is 5 mm or more.

If the USCIS-approved Civil Surgeon thinks that the applicant is infected with TB he or she will be required to visit the local health department and more visits will have to be done.