I am curious as someone mentioned on a previous thread I posted that this is not reliable...really?
I sent a tick into Igenex 2 days ago after removing it (engorged and embedded) from my son's neck. I called Igenex about where to find the proper form, procedure etc. I did ask how accurate testing a tick for LD is, the person on the phone said 99%.
I figured waiting and testing my son later (should symptoms arise or whatever), knowing the WB is so tenuous, that this would be the best way to go. Now, I'm confused and disheartened if, in fact, it's not reliable. I will research on the web....just wondering if anybody else knows? Thanks. TS
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
99% is as close as you'll get in the medical world. Just know that if the tests do come back negative but some weird symptoms arise, you should take him to a good doc ASAP.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I was bitten again 6 months after completing 4 yrs of treatment. The day I was bitten, I called my LLMD and got doxy.
I sent the tick for testing. Nine days later I began to get ill. The test results for Lyme and babesia came back 3 wks later and it was negative.
Sure, right.
I took the doxy for about 2 months and then was OK.
Posted by tickssuck (Member # 15388) on :
Yes, Lymetoo...I think you're the one who mentioned not so reliable, but I didn't know what your experience was, thanks for sharing.
I am a little disheartened as Igenex claimed it's a 99% accuracy. I think I'll call back tomorrow and ask a few more questions and see if they have more data on this. Regardless, I am doing prophylaxis treatment with abx for my son....I am not willing to lose this window of opportunity, just in case - not after the nightmare I have been, and still am living.
I am consulting with my LLMD about proper dosage and abx tx for him tomorrow to make sure we're doing the right thing. Unless Igenex can convince me otherwise about the reliability, I may keep him on a bit longer course, even if results are negative. Sigh....ticks really do suck, therefore my screen name. Tickssuck
PS. As I told my son, we are the LUCKY ones. We know about the tick bite, know about LD, know about saving the tick, know more than we'd ever care to about LD. It's the 100's of other kids from our school district that are going up there, having a great time in the woods, know zip about LD, probably never see a tick bite, etc.etc. We're in the Northwest so the knowledge is 'nil. I know it's horrible everywhere....but, the knee- jerk reaction here is that "it's an East coast problem." GRRRRR.
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
If you don't feel comfortable w/IGENEX, there are other labs who will test the tick (Medical Diagnostics, etc.).
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Tickssuck