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nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Since I've received a few PMs lately about how to find lab testing centers, I'm bumping this thread.

For websites on labs that perform inexpensive tests, do an Internet search on: cheap low cost test lab. You'll want to comparison shop---prices are likely to vary.

SirAristede · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 11:51 pm Post subject:

nomad soul, this thread is excellent and should be made a sticky. I'm in the visa process to teach in Kuwait this fall and, while some of the tests are a little different from Saudi Arabia's requirements, the general tips you gave are just great. Thanks!

ttxor1 · Joined: 04 Jan 2014 Posts: 119

Primary Heath Clinic did all my work for about $400. I looked at requestatest.com, but i think the report was going to be signed by a Phd in Chemistry -- not an MD.. for the HIV test, i went to my county's health clinic and they did it for $35. The doc wouldn't sign the Saudi health form as he didn't do the lab tests, chest xray, physical exam, etc. He did provide me with a separate letter, on county letterhead and in triplicate, stating that the county performed the test on X date and the results attached...Even though he didn't sign the Saudi medical form, I got the doc's medical license verified by my state's medical board and stapled it to my county health clinic's letter. I'd suggest taking a few extra copies of the Saudi medical form to whoever does your work, as it might be unfamiliar to them...great thread nomad soul, it was extremely helpful to me!

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

SirAristede · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:21 am Post subject:

Nomad Soul, I followed your instructions for getting my lab work and physical done on the cheap and it worked like a charm. Thanks for much for this great advice. Very Happy

I went to a lab in an adjacent suburb and only paid $120 for the lab tests (HIV, Hep B & C, Syphilis, Filariasis, and Malaria) in order to apply for my Kuwait entry visa. The lab didn't even know what Filariasis was when I called so I brought in some info from the CDC (it's a parasite). Since they don't routinely check for malaria or filariasis, the lab's director just had them both run as one test and had the specimens examined; my blood showed no trace of either disease (of course). The process was quick and I got my results via e-mail just yesterday. The lab did make an error with my date of birth on the results, so I called and they corrected the reports and reissued them to me (be sure to analyze your results, folks!). And the best part of all this was that the lab was just down the road from my grandparents, so I got to visit them too!

I had my physical and chest x-ray (to check for tuberculosis) done today. The physical was rather quick and I was certified to be in good health; I have to wait until next week for the results of the x-ray since it has to be read by a radiologist. Since Kuwait requires a "certificate of good health", I just found a generic one on the Internet and presented it to the doctor at the immediate care center along with my lab results. The physical cost me $67.50 and the chest x-ray was $78, which wasn't too bad. I called all around my city (Chicago) to find the cheapest rates and this was the cheapest I found that was reliable and where I wanted to travel.

All in all, it was a good experience and I only paid $265.50. Smile

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Glad to hear it worked out well for you, SirAristede.

I want to add that although some of the laboratory tests indicated on the medical report are outdated, that's to be expected; diagnostic testing processes and guidelines have evolved over the years due to breakthroughs and advances in clinical research as well as improved technology. In other words, a disease or disorder may have been around for decades or centuries---since its discovery. Yet the tests for its detection and diagnosis have changed, causing some screening tests to become obsolete. (Case in point, there's now a blood test that can better detect and assess tuberculosis; however, it's not yet widely available.)

So instead of focusing on the clinical name of the diagnostic test indicated on the Saudi medical report, consider the disease to be tested when speaking with the physician who will request your lab tests (if you're going through a doctor rather than ordering the tests on your own). For example, it's better to say, "I need to be screened for XXX (disease)," rather than, "The form states I have to have the OMG test to check for XXX (disease)." Wink

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

Bumping this again since it's that time of the year.

revilo · Joined: 05 Oct 2013 Posts: 181 Location: Mos Eisley

Someone mentioned that the English version of the med report is for suckers, which it essentially is. You may ask, "do they really check for Bhilarizahsisi?" Answer is: not really. If you are lucky enough to get gov't hospitals to do the physical, they generate TONS of paperwork that the avg. clerk is unwilling to go thru. My exam had no ref. to Bhilarizhsisiw.
However, the visa company told me that they do check for HIV/VD, STD, and hepatitis ABC. Make sure those are covered. Hang on to old chest X-rays and scratch out the exam dates w/ a pen. Resubmit them as new X-rays.

When you submit a complete package, it's a daunting amount of paperwork. Do you think they really go thru the whole thing when they have a backlog of papers to shuffle? Mad

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

RisingStock · Joined: 13 Mar 2015 Posts: 6

Found this EXCELLENT thread about doing the Saudi exam on the cheap. This after passportHealthUSA.com said it was going to be $1,200. SMH

I read the entire 5 pages of the thread and was just wondering if you had any advice. Specifically, if I farm out all the different sections except for the physical exam (blood, chest, STD) do I need to have each examiner fill out their respective parts, or just the final examer fill it all out....if she/he even would? (Not sure how that would work, as there would be multiple signatures.....but was hoping you'd know better.)

That might be clear as mud. To clarify, who fills out and signs the final document......in triplets?

Since when did we need to get full body cavity searches to go teach English? Lol, might as well complain about the rain, right?

Especially helpful would be if anyone out there has gone through this and has any links from the VA/DC area.

These are what I had so far for anyone in the same boat, although this is a tentative list:
http://www.privatemdlabs.com
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/privatemdlabs.com
Google Search: cheap low cost test lab

Any advice you could give would be helpful, thanks.