Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nycbabyblue67]

Have signed a contract for a job in Bundnag and will be arriving in mid Feb. I had a positive TB skin test w/ a negative xray. This means I've been exposed to TB but don't have it and am not contagious. Am not taking anti-bioitics b/c my chance for developing disease is slim and side effects scare me. Did not disclose this info on my medical self report. When I apply for ARC will physical include a TB skin test or just a chest x-ray? If you have recently had the ARC physical please let me know.

[English Matt]

My test was a year and a half ago, but friends of mine have had more recent health checks (as recent as a couple of weeks ago). It may vary from hospital to hospital but it was an x-ray.

[nycbabyblue67]

Thanks, EM.
Will you please ask your friends who have had the test recently?
I don't want to get kicked out of the country if they skin test.

[jmuns]

mine was x-ray, no skin tests

[blackjack]

mine was chest 6 months ago

[nycbabyblue67]

Recently? Thanks.

[nycbabyblue67]

Thanks. Was really freaked out.

[morrisonhotel]

Chest x-ray about 5 weeks ago.

[bassexpander]

X-ray is most popular here. They also checked what I'd coughed up, because I was spitting up blood at the time.

[CentralCali]

If you get the tine test, it may show a positive result if you have been exposed to someone with the disease. The tine test is not a final test--those who test postive with that test then have a chest X-ray taken.

[nycbabyblue67]

Thanks CC. That's exactly the procedure I went through in the US. I was worried that if I had a skin test in Korea, I'd test positive (once exposed your status never changes), not even get a chance to do the follow-up chest xray and be deported immediately.
Most posters here have indicated the Korean authorities don't even bother with the skin test and go straight to the chest x-ray. This is probably because the skin test just indicates exposure to TB and isn't really that useful in weeding out people who are contagious.