Job Discussion Forums

[EnergeticKoala]

Ok Ive had around 2 weeks in China and its my first time on the mainland(zhi shi wode diyici lidao zhongou..... yes ive forgotton some of my pinyin spelling). To prove that truth can be stanger than fiction I will now reveal to you what has been recently happening to me. Last week I went through whats called here the "body check" process which was interesting in a number of ways. For example I have never been given an altrasound test before and it showed. I now understand for the first time in my life that I have only one kidney. But wait there is more. I found out today from my school that my Australian doctors report about my liver was probebly a "bad test" because the Chinese blood test reveals that I, although only mildly, is once again a carrier of the Hep B virus. But Wait there is more. I was asked to come here quickly on an L visa which runs out in a few weeks time (my travel agent tells me that this visa can be extended for up to another 3 months). The school has agreed to allow me to stay in the provided hotel room for another week pending the outcome of a second blood test I had today. They have forbidden me to teach and the visa guy has suggested it will be difficult to get my visa extended beyound its current life. Is it true that a problem of this type is likley to make it difficult to get the tourist visa extended ? . Even if I do have this infection I can take a course of tablets which usually, I am told, cures the problem within a few weeks which would show up in another blood test. Surely there can be some flexibility in the system to allow me to gain the Chinese version of a clean bill of health ?. If not is it possiable for me to go to Hong Kong under the visa free arrangment for a few weeks then reapply to come back to the mainland via another "body check" .....Help !!

[Lobster]

That's shocking news! That HepB test just shows that you were exposed sometime in the past, not that you've suddenly become an active carrier. For me, the shocker was that my blood type changed from B- to A+. That happened in 12 hours during the plane ride here from Canada. As well, my bones migrated to the outside of my body, I grew six extra legs, and my hands turned into claws. It's ok though. I can still hold the chalk and my swimming ability has improved greatly. In spite of all these things, I somehow still passed the medical. I feel it'd be wise to avoid seafood restaurants for the duration of my stay here.

RED

[brsmith15]

If the school really wants you, the "tests" will somehow come out negative.

[abusalam4]

In case of any infectious disease they may find they most likely would ask you to leave China. This is if you hold a Z visa.

Whether health checks are required in case of other visa categories, I do not know but would find it very unlikely according to my own previous experience.

[abusalam4]

[clark.w.griswald]

[HunanForeignGuy]

[englishgibson]

such news as posted above are shocking...aside that hep B, i've been wondering why we need two good kidneys or a good liver to teach in china
are all chinese teachers as healthy

peace to chinese educational system as well as their standards for laowais
and
cheers and beers to all of us that are healthy to teach

[ChinaAndrew]

this is my third year in china. I've only had one blood test that was for h.i.v to obtain an r.p.f chinese hospitals are famous for being rip-off artists so you need to pay for every specific test i.e h.i.v, hepatitis etc I've never had to have a 'body check' as you mentioned. If you don't pay for a complete blood test (see the form you have to tick off) even if they did pick up something like, i don't know, the bird flu they wouldn't tell you. would make them accountable wouldn't it?
trust in the chinese health system or make a fake certificate. plenty of people around who do that, failing that bribe a doctor.

[Lobster]

Yes HFG, I suppose I could have been a bit more helpful and less humorous (i.e. smarta**), but the point is, and I thought a genia** like you would have gotten it: many clinics here are incompetent, and the results you get are often inaccurate, as we both know that blood type changes aren't a minor mess-up. I'm sure that if the OP told the clinic that he was willing to spend 1000 rmb in the clinic's pharmacy to cure the hep and regrow the kidney, a followup examination would indicate that, through the use of wonderous Chinese medications, all ailments had been almost miraculously cured. If, on the other hand, he does have hep and only one kidney, he'd better go home and see a specialist. I'm full of doubt; particularly after reading the story about how government inspectors gave samples of green tea, that were supposed to be urine samples, to several health care institutions and received diagnoses and recommendations for pharmaceuticals.

edited to remove further references to my metamorphosis.

RED

[patsy]

HOw can you be "mildly" a carrier of the hepatitis b virus?? I feel for you. It sounds like something that would be expected to happen if you were teaching for HUNAN WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY IN CHANGSHA. I agree that they may be looking for a way for you to not get their visa. but of course it will only be for your "safety". lol.

[cj750]

recently I have heard of a guy who had been in chna for years..being diagnosed with syphilis...in advanced stages..never been found before but they will not issue the z..he has been told that even after treatment it will show positive for awhile...many months and he will be refused the visa even after treatment....

as to Hep..I think it may be considered a sexual transmitted disease and that is why....
some Dentist in the states have refused to work on folks with hep...

[clark.w.griswald]

[cj750]

I would think they were worried bout blood transfer....while cleaning or drillin...and not the kind of drillin you imagine...

[tw]