IgM and IGG from IGeneX positive for Lyme, but my ID dr is using a blood test taken a month later from QUEST DIAGNOSTICS to prove to me I don't have Lyme. Don't worry, a LLMD already has diagnosed me with Lyme and I've started abx. Has anyone ever hear of this Lab, are they reputable and, more importantly, reliable? Thanks!
Posted by mbroderick (Member # 5220) on :
I had a Lyme test done through Quest Labs that came back negative. Blood was then sent to IgeneX and it came back positive. I liked the Quest diagnosis better!
Posted by DJP (Member # 5893) on :
The Quest lab in our area does not test for all of the Lyme specific bands on the Western Blot so I do not consider it reliable.
Posted by Kara Tyson (Member # 939) on :
The Quest in my area doesnt even hire certified lab techs. They just hire people from temp. employment services.
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
Quests Blows!!!!!
I got my positives from MDL Labs and IGENIX. MDL takes insurance!!!!!!!!
take care, Heather
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
Quest is good for basic tests--liver enzymes, thyroid, cholesterol etc. They are not a good lab for lyme, because they don't have techs that do the test often enough to know how to do it properly.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
As others have said, "They're Lame, really Lame." I guess I could say "Pun intended!?"
------------------ Do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor, but I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express! oops! Lymetutu
Posted by Jaymz (Member # 7197) on :
Thank you all for your responses. The ID Dr. just needed a reason to deny the possibility of Lyme, and the diagnostics gave her the opportunity. She didn't take the time to look at my history of symptoms, or the positive IGeneX test.
Posted by lymster (Member # 5964) on :
I don't know if they are good or not; but my first Lyme test came positive through them, of course the idiot ID said they were wrong because they didn't know how to do the Lyme test.
Then I asked him: and why the h..... did you send me to them?; he replied well I was sure it was going to be negative because there is no Lyme in WA state; so now we have to repeat the test through Igenex and also do a spinal tap. Of course it also came back positive from Igenex but the so called ID IDIOT said the results were inconclusive.
I told him that what is was inconclusive is that doctors like him don't know c..... about Lyme and the worst part is that they have no intention to learn it on their life time.
Unbelievable! Feel much better now!
Lymster
Posted by briteeyes30 (Member # 7742) on :
My sons lyme tests came back positive from quest diag. His LLMD said labs are ok not the best. So he took more blood and sent them off to mdl and igenex.
Still waiting for those results.
Posted by kumba (Member # 7733) on :
incrediable. my lyme tests just turnied up negative from quest. dx clinacally with lymes on my assistance and got doxc. will be retested at igenex.
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Quest next to worthless except for basic blood work. I was negative through them, but CDC positive at IGeneX. Maybe if you're recently infected you'll test positive, otherwise not likely. They do NOT use 100% pure Lyme antigen like IGeneX does in their testing.
Infectious Disease docs are about the worst kind of docs to be seeing for Lyme, by the way! YUCK! Right up there with neurologists!
Best wishes!!
Michelle
Posted by DanP (Member # 7501) on :
I had 4 Lyme tests done by Quest over 3 years. All came back negative unless my physician at the time was lying to me. Last year I made the same physician send my blood to SUNY stony brook's lab. The results were positive! These results were confirmed 2 months later by Igenex. I can't say I'm surprised because now that I have that physician's notes, I recall waking up with a bullet rash in 2001 on Fire Island NY and being treated with a month's abx by the physician out there. I had completely forgotten about the rash and the treatment when i was laid low in july of 2004 by this nasty bug. Obviously, 2 weeks' worth of abx wasn't enough in 2001 to cure me. And I paid for it starting in July of 2004 and continuing today. Don't rely on Quest for Lyme results!
Posted by johnnyb (Member # 7645) on :
Multiple WB taken at quest were all negative, even though I showed activity on bands 41 and 39 (39 is supposedly the most specific band for lyme).
Quest Elisa was positive, but since the WB was negative, I was denied treatment, even though I had a tick stuck in my head before symptoms began.
2+ years later I found this board and a good LLMD, who reviewed my questionable quest labs, retested me at Igenex and got a positive WB.
If I had used Igenex to start, I would have received treatment early on, instead of going into the chronic lyme stage I am in now.
- JB
Posted by Laurie (Member # 159) on :
My fellow Lymers and I always tell anyone who's had a positive test through Quest to make numerous copies and keep them under lock and key! A positive test from Quest is a precious thing! (And shows a person with great antibodies.)
Posted by lymster (Member # 5964) on :
Dear Laurie:
No kidding!!!!!!!!!
I framed mine for future generations to come along with all mepron bottles and my bicillin shots. I am even thinking of making a room in my house named the "HALL OF LYME" I will probably need a picture of my LLMD. LOL!
Great one, keep it up, sense of humor is priceless when you got Lyme.
Michelle: I was infected as a child, I am past 40 now -let's leave it at that- so it looks like Quest can make miracles with Lymies infected for a long time. Not the rule, I know, but sometimes they get it right. Incredible!
Take care all of you, Lymster
Posted by johnnyb (Member # 7645) on :
That's true. I've heard that many lyme-ignorant docs will dismiss a positive from igenex and only take quest seriously.
That makes a lot of sense..... take the word of the less competent, non-specialized lab.
- JB
Posted by beachcomber (Member # 5320) on :
All of my Lyme tests with Quest were positive. Stoneybrook was "borderline". Yale was negative.
My MD is an ID Dr. He is not an idiot. He is Lyme Literate. I would really appreciate it if generalizations like "ID Docs are about the worst kind....." be kept to yourself. Who are you to judge who the best MDs are?
I recently saw an LLMD who told me I never had Lyme, based on one negative test result. She is not an ID Dr. or a Neurologist. Go figure!
I'll stick with my MD, and my positive results from Quest, thank you very much.
oops! 
I guess I could say "Pun intended!?"