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Thread: Tested positive for Hepatitis B

  1. #1
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    Unhappy Tested positive for Hepatitis B

    Hello everyone
    I am new to this forum and need your support. I got a job offer so I was requested to undergo medicals with my family. We went to the panel doctor on the 3o July 2013. The following day the doctor phoned me saying the results are out, all was fine except that I tested positive for Hep B and need to go back for second tests. I went back to have more blood drawn and I was advised the following tests were to be done: Hep B e antigen, feroprotein and liver function.
    I collected the results on 02 August 2013 and the doctor said they were all very good with e antigen (-) and liver functioning normal. I was given all the results, original lab reports and the final report.
    My biggest worry is that it was the first time I have ever heard of Hep B and since then have been doing all I can to understand the disease by surfing on the internet of course the implication of the (+) test on my visa application and by the way wife tested fine on all her blood tests.

    We are having so many unanswered questions with my family and I have no idea for how long I have had the virus in my body. Can this affect my visa outcome and my employer withdrawing the offer?

  2. #2
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    I have family w/long term issues, I might be able to answer general queries.

    I suspect that this was acquired at birth and is not a active issue (virus gone to "sleep")

    Have any of your parents & siblings tested yet? Children? This would help - whether they are carrying and similar results or not.

    Contrary to widespread belief, this is not transmitted except by blood transfer or placental (birth). Placental is tackled by immunoglobulin.

    Unlikely your partner will show anything in tests unless independent carrier.

    How much do you know about Hep B and what it does to the liver from your research so far?

    Understand what you are going through and it is quite a confusing time initially.

    NZ does have good liver specialists, if that helps.

    It did not affect our visa and residency.

  3. #3
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    Don't worry TOO much about this for INZ purposes. It's only if the disease is found to be surface antigen positive that Hepatitis B is flagged as an issue. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/45634.htm You've already been told that's not the case for you.

    When you send in your medical, the normal procedure is that the CO has to refer it to a Medical Assessor (MA) if the panel doctor has marked any abnormality. The MA's job is to see if there is likely to be any high cost to the Health Service from this person's condition, and s/he can require any further tests or reports to get a clear idea. However, for you, the doctor has already done those, so make sure you send copies along WITH the medical, to cut down anything extra the MA will need as much as possible.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by nativecolo View Post
    I suspect that this was acquired at birth and is not a active issue (virus gone to "sleep")

    Have any of your parents & siblings tested yet? Children? This would help - whether they are carrying and similar results or not.

    Contrary to widespread belief, this is not transmitted except by blood transfer or placental (birth). Placental is tackled by immunoglobulin.

    Unlikely your partner will show anything in tests unless independent carrier.
    Did you read something in the OP that I missed? Hep B is remarkably easy to catch, both through blood and sex. Following a needle stick exposure, you are something like 100 times more likely to catch hep B as compared to HIV. There is, of course a vaccine against hep B.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by JandM View Post
    Don't worry TOO much about this for INZ purposes. It's only if the disease is found to be surface antigen positive that Hepatitis B is flagged as an issue. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/45634.htm You've already been told that's not the case for you.
    Based on what the OP has written, he/she is surface antigen positive. That is to say, surface antigen would be the most likely initial test for hep b (and as indicated above, is positive). I can't comment on the rest of NZ Immigration's criteria ("meeting criteria for antiviral treatment") with the supplied info.

    Note: None of the information contained in this post (or the previous) should be construed as medical advice. It's free info in a public forum, and worth at least as much as you paid for it.

  6. #6
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    72andsunny has specialist knowledge, so please take notice of what he says - I read he has "e antigen (-)" and was misled.

    You will need to take advice from your own doctor, and no doubt the MA will want reports from him/her.

    Here's a statement of the current system for treatment in NZ. https://www.southerncross.co.nz/Abou...ccination.aspx

  7. #7
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    Hi 72andsunny, I note your disagreement, it's what I have been told by our liver specialist in NZ.

    Based on recent development I understand that the medical position is now different. However I am not a doctor, so do not have any knoweldge other than what I know from personal experience dealing with liver specialists.

  8. #8
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    Hello all
    Thanx to the replies as they all contrubuted positively. I will be updating you on the progress and seek advice where neccessary.
    If I may ask what do the abbreviations EOI stand for and the brief summary associated with it?

  9. #9
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    EOI stands for Expression Of Interest - it's the first application to Immigration NZ made by someone who wants to apply for Residence under the Skilled Migrant Scheme. Are you asking about the signature on nativecolo's posts? - what you see there is the timeline for the different stages his case went through.

  10. #10
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    Hello everyone once again.
    I was referred to a specialist who conducted the serology and hepatitis b viral load tests.He says am surface antigen (+), e antingen (-), hepatitis b core antibody (+), hep b viral load is very low at 346. Liver function is very normal and I do not need treatment but may need to be checked from time to time. I haven't lodged as yet the specialist referral was done as per my immigration adviser's advice.
    I have the detailed specialist report that I have put together with the rest of apllication requirements including medical forms and all lab test results. My worry now is that is there anything else the MA will require after lodging.
    May those with knowledge advise me if am still in the race for the WTR visa or this is enough for it to be declined.

    Please advise am worried and comfused.

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