I know I've read it many times here. But there has to be SOME value in it. My conondrum is this. I've been tested through Quest multiple times now. Negative. Tested through Igenex once, positive on the IgM. Negative on the IgG. I went to an infectious disease doctor who ran the full gammot of co-infections on me and everything came back negative via Quest. Do I have to run my co-infections through Igenex as well? Or is Quest sufficient?
Posted by Robin61 (Member # 5470) on :
I think it is better to test with Igenex or Bowen personally. I Was one of the lucky ones that tested positive igm thru quest however all co-infections were negative. Then i tested co-infections months later with Igenex and Babesia was highly positive and then found out later thru MDL that i had positive mycoplasma as well. So i think all in all it is better to test with a lab that specializes in these diseases. Hope this helps you! Robin in Houston
Posted by Monica (Member # 224) on :
Yes, Quest is a complete waste of time, money and blood.
Posted by Lymester (Member # 5848) on :
Ruffy, Had to laugh. 1st Quest I got almost 10 years ago, indeterminate. I have been going back and forth to GPs, ENT's etc and gotten tested and they all come back negative. I think it's only the diagnosticians in CT being paid to hide this crap. I mean come on!
We've definitely been as ill as any dog diagnosed with lyme and they get treated.
VERY suspicious to me.
Posted by lla2 (Member # 2364) on :
yes, quest is a waste..not specific enough to pick up lyme antibodies...almost always negative...then your'e in a bind and insurance REALLY won't treat
lisa
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
I had a positive western blot with Igenex. But, Samsun clinic docs like so many other docs wanted to do their own testing.
Now, I know that lyme is a clinical dx and the technology for testing still needs improvement.
As far as my test scores at Samsun clinic with Quest Labs, I was a walking picture of health.
The only problem is that I needed a wheel chair in order to get to the lab.
I was told people come from all over the country to be seen by Samsun Clinic docs.
But, I found the neuro and r doc (sorry, can't think of how to spell his speciality at this time) knew very little about lyme disease.
I later learned that one paragraph is taught in medical school on lyme.
Posted by Danser (Member # 7373) on :
I'm so glad to see this. I just got off the phone with my dh's PCP with the Western Blot results from Quest . . . negative.
I feel like crying. I don't even understand why the LLMD bothered to order the Quest testing along with Igenex (which was just done today and I don't know how long that takes) Perhaps he was thinking that IF Quest came up with a positive test, our insurance might be more helpful???
Anyway, I asked the nurse how many bands tested negative and she replied ALL the bands (not that I think she even understands what that means) The test results will go to the LLMD also and perhaps he can make sense of it.
Counting the days til the Igenex lab results come.
BTW . . . has anyone here had ALL negative test results - even from Igenex? I'm so worried that's what we'll get even though the LLMD is convinced my dh has lyme.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
YES!!!!! Posted by brainless (Member # 6771) on :
Ditto Monica
Quest is a waste of time, money and blood.
b
Posted by Kara Tyson (Member # 939) on :
The only thing that I know about Quest is that where I live they dont hire certified lab techs--they just hire people from temp. services (such as Kelly services).
Posted by DJP (Member # 5893) on :
If you must go through Quest for a WB you must ask for a copy of the test. Quest will run a screening test first (similar to the Elisa) and if it comes back negative they don't do the WB.
The doctor specifically wrote down WB and it didn't matter. I had to call the lab to get them to re-do the test.
Doctors don't know to look for this and they call and tell you the WB is negative.
Get a copy of the test results.
This is kind of a test...I wanted to know what Quest does as they are the lab widely used in this area.
I'm also testing the insurance process.
Posted by shazdancer (Member # 1436) on :
Just wanted to weigh in on the other side, because it is the truth.
I tested CDC positive, first time out, by Quest. The good thing is, no one can say I was tested by a lab that "always" finds Lyme.
My son tested CDC positive by a hospital lab in CT that reports all bands. For those of you needing to use their insurance to pay for the testing, this may be a helpful alternative to either Quest or Igenex.
And be sure to get copies of your tests for your personal medical records.
Regards, Sharon
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
Quest is a joke. They only hire the stupidest people with the least amount of education. Like someone who couldn't make it at Mickey D's.
I made my Insurance LLMD say so also.
For those who have tested positive thru quest.......... M I R I C L E !
And everyone here deserves miracles.
Heather
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
I mean this is really pissing me off!!! Do you know how many Lyme tests I've had from stupid quest?
AAARRRGGGG!
Posted by Laurie (Member # 159) on :
Your doc has to order the WB or yes, Quest is liable to run the Elisa first and if negative, skip the WB.
Quest is so often negative that we tell people who are found positive by Quest, lock up that test where it's safe -- and be glad you have such a good immune system that your antibodies are floating around where they can be seen.
By the way, I did have a "No Bands Seen" test -- from Yale.
Posted by Lymester (Member # 5848) on :
Where do veterinarians test from? Anyone know?
I have had every test come back negative except for the 96 diagnoses with testing done a week into abx came back with a lot of indeterminates.
Don't even know if I could find the test results from back then.
Clinical, clinical clinical.
Posted by aliyalex (Member # 6976) on :
Bowen tests horses blood. The vet has to arrange it.
Posted by Ruffy (Member # 7146) on :
Is Greenwich Labs a credible alternative here in CT? I know they have blood drawing clinics in the area. I don't want to have to waste my time getting stuck with needles for nothing. To the person that said that the Quest employees are McD's rejects, I concur. I hate saying it, but definitely not a high level employee. Although I don't know who the people are actually testing the blood. I just have to make a decision on whether to have my co-infections tested through Ingenex. All my Quest results have come back negative other than spinal fluid positive for Bart.
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Great thread. What they SHOULD be teaching doctors is that Quest testing is for SCREENING purposes only, NOT for people with symptoms of Lyme.
For those people, they should be going straight to the best labs, like IGeneX or Bowen or MDL, for Western Blots. Do not pass go or collect $200.
Unfortunately, most doctors are clueless about this.
My own quack neuro argued vehemently with me, despite a known tick bite w/rash, MRI with brain lesions, full set of symptoms, claiming "NO, you send it to Quest FIRST and if it comes back positive THEN you send it to a specialty lab."
DUH.
Naturally it came back negative.
Thanks to this Board, I found an LLMD, and IGeneX, CDC positive results, and the rest is history.
A POX on Quest, I say.
I read that the chances of the ELISA test coming up positive are about the same as flipping a coin.
Them's scary odds.
In view of that it seems like some doctor-educatin' oughta be in order but I haven't seen any in progress...
:-)
Michelle
Posted by brainless (Member # 6771) on :
The odds in flipping a coin are 50 - 50. The odds of a Lyme patient getting a Quest positive are much, much less.
