Tuberculosis (TB) screening is a standard part of the Immigration Medical Exam (IME) required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Every applicant aged 11 or older must complete a chest X-ray to screen for signs of active or past TB. If there are any abnormal findings, additional testing may be needed to confirm whether the infection is active or inactive. 

If your chest X-ray is normal, your medical results will be sent directly to IRCC, and no further action is needed. If the X-ray shows any abnormalities that may suggest TB, our panel physician will directly contact you to explain your results and guide you through the next steps. Here is what usually happens: 

1. Notification of results

You will receive an email from our clinic notifying you of your results. Upon request, our panel physician can arrange a call to explain your results and answer any questions. 

2. Additional testing: Sputum test + Follow-Up Chest X-ray

You may be asked by IRCC to complete sputum testing, which checks for active TB bacteria in your lungs. It’s important to complete this test as soon as possible, since results can take 6-8 weeks to be processed. 

IRCC may also request a follow-up chest X-ray after three months to see if your condition has changed or improved. Make sure to complete this X-ray on or after the date specified by IRCC, as it must be done at least three months after your initial test.

3. Referral to an Infections Clinic or Family Doctor

Depending on your case, our panel physician will advise you to follow up with a family doctor or infectious disease clinic for further evaluation or treatment. If treatment is required, you will be referred to a specialized TB or infectious disease clinic. Make sure to bring your health card to your appointment.

As required by law, positive TB results will be reported to Public Health. This step ensures proper follow-up and treatment if needed. Once your TB results are reported, Public Health may reach out to you directly for monitoring or additional care. They will also contact our clinic to coordinate your follow-up testing and documentation for IRCC.

Testing positive for TB does not mean you will fail your Immigration Medical Exam. You can still be approved for immigration as long as you complete all required testing and treatment, provide proof of follow-up and treatment, and your condition is stable and not infectious. 

Immigration Medical Exam (IME) and Tuberculosis (TB): Key Takeaways

• Chest X-ray (CXR) for TB screening is required for everyone aged 11 and older.
• If abnormalities are found, additional testing (sputum, repeat X-ray) may be required.
• All positive or suspected TB cases are reported to Public Health for follow-up.
• You must complete follow-up and provide proof of treatment to ensure your IME remains valid.

Our clinic will guide you step-by-step and submit all required documents to IRCC. At Immigration Medical Centre in Oakville, our kind, caring and experienced Panel Physicians and medical practitioners are happy to support you throughout the entire Immigration Medical Exam process. For clients’ convenience, we provide all tests including blood test and x-ray in the same building. To book your Immigration Medical Exam, please either call us at 416-822-3326 or book it online on our website.   

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