TB (Mantoux) skin test
I had a complete medical check for my visa earlier this year but I recently found out that they did not do the complete tuberculosis test. The X-ray pictures they took used to be ok but apparently they now want people to have been checked through the TB skin test (Mantoux-test).
The TB (Mantoux) skin test is nothing serious, they inject you with a little bit of tuberculine (a purified protein which comes from the germ itself) and this stuff works as antigen (allergen) and should give a reaction when antibodies are in the patient’s skin and/or blood. When there is a reaction with a bump of 10 millimeter or larger, then there is a TB infection.. if it is smaller than 5 millimeter then the test is found negative and you are not infected with TB germs.
I went to a clinic last Friday where they tested me on TB as it is important for my visa. They injected some fluids into my skin and the result was read back today: 0 mm, or in other words: no TB infection (would be weird if I had since there is hardly TB in the Netherlands).
Michelle’s mother also liked me to take this test, not so much because she worries about her own or her daughter’s health but mainly because she runs a carehome downstairs and it is mandatory for all residents and household members to be tested once a year (and in the end that is just a good case).
Also, if the TB (Mantoux) skin test is found to be positive (meaning TB infection), then you still don’t have to worry much as TB can be cured (you’ll have to take medication for 9 months long to get rid of every last germ) and an infection is still not the disease. The disease is a step further.. someone can have a TB infection for his whole life but does not have to get sick and that person will not infect anybody else (unless they get sick, which happens to 1 out of 10 people).
TB is something that you can find at about 1 on every 3 people in the world, about 2 billion people are infected with the TB germs, so that’s quite often. I didn’t expect it to be this much and I kind of read the statistics with my mouth open.
So I am TB negative.. it is something that I didn’t expect to be any kind different but oh well, I think it is nice to know that I am healthy 
Tags: Immigration, Medical
