Hubby called and talked to Dr Snow who is one of the scientists at the lab.
The website has very little info on the test specifics. Per Dr Snow the test is a proprietary DNA assay using some sort of PCR technology.
Test kits costs $50 -- can be ordered by patient or doc. The test costs an additional $450 for a total of $500. Turnaround time for the test is about 2 weeks. There is only one test panel available which tests for all the organisms listed on the website.
Per Dr Snow the lab has found all 6 Borrelia species listed on the website as well as all of the other organisms listed. They have an electron microscope and for research are trying to document the test results visually as well.
This sounds like another step forward to me.
Hope to have hubby tested by this lab later this year.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Brandimc (Member # 22017) on :
How ia this lab different than Igenix?
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I would feel better about this if they would say
they tested for all bands and they were affiliated
with a Lyme group on our side. I can't help it-I've
been duped by lies and lyme.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
This is not an antibody test so no bands involved. It is some sort of PCR test but I am not totally sure -- don't think it is real time PCR but something maybe even newer and more advanced.
This is a pretty new lab -- not exactly sure how long they have been in business.
According to Dr Snow they will be present at various trade booths and Lyme conferences later this year as they gear up.
I found the lab listed on the website of a naturopath who also listed IGeneX, MDL and Bowen Lab as other tickborne testing labs.
Because the lab does PCR testing I am just not sure yet about the number of false negatives. That is the real disadvantage of PCR tests.
Bea Seibert
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Pinelady,
The fact that the lab says they are finding the European strains of Lyme tells me that they are obviously not IDSA fans. I am pretty sure there is not a single pubmed article published that acknowledges that the borrelia afzelii and borrelia garinii strains can be found in U.S. ticks. Hubby had another test from a lab which has since closed that indicated he might have these 2 strains of Lyme instead of the more common borrelia burgdorferi.
Brandi,
This lab only does PCR testing -- means they are looking for the actual DNA of the bacteria -- not antibodies which are an immune system response.
Also the lab tests for some things that I have never seen tested for at any other lab -- such as brachyspira aalborgi and brachyspira hyodysenteriae -- I had to look those up. They are gastrointestinal spirochetes. Would love to have hubby tested for those.
Bea Seibert
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I hope this is indeed some new and improved technology.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
MAJOR ARTICLE 2‐Tiered Antibody Testing for Early and Late Lyme Disease Using Only an Immunoglobulin G Blot with the Addition of a VlsE Band as the Second‐Tier Test
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
once again -- the lab does not do antibody testing -- only PCR testing. May be beneficial for people like hubby who never test positive on antibody tests.
Bea Seibert
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Anyone else used this lab?
I have recently heard some good reviews about it.
Curious if anyone else here has experience with them?
Bea, did you send off a sample and get significant results? If that's not too nosey? (And if you see this again, since this is an old post!)
This is a lab looking for genetic materials again, just to make sure there is no confusion -
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Cactus,
No -- We did not test with this lab -- decided to save our money -- glad we did as hubby is now on 2 IV antibiotics.
Deja vu -- Got an email from someone on another forum today. They have positive Fry slide -- but were negative on both Galaxy Labs and SpiroStat so now their doc doesn't want to treat. Person has severe neuro symptoms including seizures -- sounds a lot like hubby.
Bea Seibert
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Bea, thanks for replying.
It sounds like hubby is making strides without more tests - I hope the IV is working well for him.
LLMD says she's had good results with this lab picking up various strains and other infections though - so that's promising.
Looks like it might be one of those tests where a positive is significant, and a negative means only that there was no genetic material present in the particular sample that the lab received.
Sending good healing thoughts to hubby, Cactus
Posted by capebite (Member # 9789) on :
I ust recenty had spiriostat and was initially skeptical as the first test came back negative. I had it repeated with a capliiary finger stick added to the venous sample and this time the test came back positive for babesia microti and anaplasma. anaplasma was positive a number of years ago and treated with IV Doxy but babesia microti tested mutiple times by multiple labs negative!!! Capillary testing was the difference!!! An internet search reveals this is the best testing for babesia!!! ABABS by Byron white and rifing with DNA frequencies causing HUGE flare of symptoms. depression, exhaustion, chills, shakes so hopefull we are finaly getting somewhere. pm for questions.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
Sounds really good. Thanks for posting.
I hope others will post over time so we can assess if this is worthwhile.
I'm so tired of not being sure what exactly is the issue with my health. I didn't want to keep spending money on tests that may or may not be accurate.
It would be great if this place has a reliable test.
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :