I had my first WB done by Quest. It came back NEG. Although it did show REACTIVE bands at IGG 30 and IGG 41. What does this mean? I'm new to all of this and don't really understand. Does this mean I've been exposed?
Many have told me not to trust Quest labs that they show MANY false NEG. I know someone who tested Neg on Quest with NO reactive bands and went on to test CDC positive with Igenenx.
Is Quest really that bad? Anyone else share their Quest results and experiences?
Thanks.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I was lucky that Quest found IgM band 23 on me.
That is all they found.
Enough to get me diagnosed by a local duck,
But I will always wonder......
I wish I had known about this site and Igenex before
I had my Western Blot done.
Plus Quest tried to bill me for months for monies
Not paid to them due to contract with my insurance.
I didn't owe it, but it didn't stop them from putting me in Collections.
My insurance said Quest often did that and that some people paid.
I would never use them again.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Yes, they are that bad.
Igenex tests for 14 IgG and 14 IgM bands. Other labs test for 10 IgG bands and only 3 IgM bands.
Those other labs leave out some of the most important species specific bands.
Igenex included many species of borrelia bacteria when they developed their testing methods.
Other labs only included a few species.
There are at least 100 species of borrelia in the US alone, and 300 worldwide.
A lab won't be able to detect antibodies to a species not included in the testing.
Testing is not foolproof, but Igenex is the best.
Order a western blot IgG and IgM, test #188 and #189....cost $200. www.igenex.com
Lyme is a clinical diagnosis based on history and symptoms, and can be supported by labwork.
Lyme is never, never ruled out based just on a lab test.
Posted by John S (Member # 19756) on :
See Dr. C's western blot explanation in the posts above.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
When you say Igenix tests for 'many species', I truly hope it's ONLY the ones known to cause harm/symptoms to humans!! Can someone please verify? I recall Marnie saying 100+ strains of Bb exist. That would make a lot of meaningless positives if more than te four identified strains are included, right?
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
quote:Originally posted by seekhelp: When you say Igenix tests for 'many species', I truly hope it's ONLY the ones known to cause harm/symptoms to humans!! Can someone please verify? I recall Marnie saying 100+ strains of Bb exist. That would make a lot of meaningless positives if more than te four identified strains are included, right?
As far as I am aware:
Igenex tests for TWO species (Bb 31 and Bb 297), both proven to cause human disease.
Other labs test for ONE (Bb 31) only.
This information is available on Igenex's site btw. A simple Google with the terms "Igenex" and "strains" pulled that result to the top:
"In addition, instead of using just one strain of bacteria, two strains (B 31 and 297) are used to make IGeneX Western Blot strips."
quote:Originally posted by John S: See Dr. C's western blot explanation in the posts above.
This is very good advice - it will explain to you what your results mean, how Lyme antibodies work, and how the WB test is designed and conducted. I will link it here for you - it can be difficult to find amidst all the stickied threads:
The gold standard for this test is the Igenex Western Blot - their lab is a reference lab. This link again should help you understand *some* of the differences that make their lab and their testing better:
[ 04-30-2009, 10:07 AM: Message edited by: nenet ]
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
I would get it checked out at Igenex. Something is definately up.
I was lucky and came back with 7/10 of them at Quest as you can see all the way at the bottom.
Good Luck!
Posted by kareamber (Member # 20110) on :
What about strains from Europe? Would that show on the IGenex tests? I lived in Spain for 3 years with A LOT of ticks. Wouldn't that be a different species????
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
Yes, Quest is pretty bad for Lyme and commpany testing.
That's why my LLMD almost fell over when my Ehrlichia test actually came back positive on the Quest test!
Posted by nyjohn (Member # 15361) on :
quest is like getting your bloodwork done at kmart
quest was "not positive enough to warrant treatment" for me for months till i was so sick.
then, finally quest came up positive. that was when i told the idsa doc who didn't treat me prior to go shove it.
right after that, i saw an llmd who said " you are even positive on a quest lab!"
i tested pos for bb, rmsf, babs, myco p
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Man I went to "walmart", got lucky and saved money!!!
I must have it real bad for everything to be all positive through Quest!
or as nyjohn called it Walmart.
Whats wrong with Walmart??
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Actually there are over 300+ strains of bb world wide.
Not all are aggressive or cause the issues most of us have.
I think Quest actually uses the European strain if I remember correctly.
Print it out and read it several times!
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
I found Quest to be "ehh, O..K" when I was tested. My LLMD had me retested at IgeneX exactly a month later. Results? As if you'd turned up the contrast & brightness on the [former] Quest Western bolt results (especially dramatic when comparing the "IgG" results side-by-side).
I was CDC+ even w/ Quest (IgG) so it wasn't an issue of marginal results... just that one can get atleast 4 levels of indication for each band w/ IgeneX. And more bands to boot, including Lyme-specific bands! So why settle for Quest??
Posted by Dawnee (Member # 15089) on :
Yes Quest is really that bad. My daughter came back neg. on every single band from Quest. Two other labs came back CDC positive with multiple bands present.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
Just curious, Dawnee... Was that all-negative Quest WB result of your daughter's an IgM or an IgG panel? I know they were having sensitivity "issues" with the IgM for a while.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
Quest is bad, but in my case I got lucky.....
If it ain't broke, don't fix it right???
If someone strongly feels that they have Lyme and come back negative through Quest then try Igenex.
I feel that Lyme should be treated on a clinical diagnosis if the blood test fails.
The testing for Lyme just isn't there yet....
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
Wow, Kreynolds, Thats' the Exact Same set of + bands that I showed on MY Quest IgG!!(Nov 2005)
Have you been on hi-level amoxy & Prob?(& fluc) I made Great strides on that protocol, though I didn't have to deal w/ the co-s like U. :/
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
someone new pmed me yesterday stating she was going to test now with QUEST....no, have tick tested; i referred her only to igenex.
Posted by Kreynolds (Member # 15117) on :
'kete-tracker:
You name it, I've been on it. I was considering getting my blood done through Igenex, although my disease is the result of a WC case.
I also had a + Spinal Tap and a Moderate-Severe SPECT scan.
Now I find out that the Lyme has damaged my brain real bad and my Pituitary Gland is shot so now I have Addisons Disease from the Lyme as well.