USING 21st CENTURY TECHNOLOGY FLOW CYTOMETRY CAPTURES THE LYME DISEASE ANTIGEN BORRELIA BURGDORFERI IN A ONE OF A KIND TEST
Contact Person: Tom Long, Administrator Central Florida Research, Inc. 245 N Seminole Avenue Lake Alfred, Florida 33850 Phone: (863) 956-3538 FAX: (863) 956-0839 www.centralfloridaresearch.com
* Borrelia burgdorferi Direct Fluorescent Antibody by Flow Cytometer *
The Central Florida Research laboratory is located in Lake Alfred, Florida and is replacing the laboratory operations of the Bowen Research and Training Institute, Inc. Central Florida Research, Inc. is a state licensed CLIA approved laboratory and is dedicated to the research of Lyme disease and other (CSID) Chronic, Systemic, Infectious Diseases. The Bowen Technique is still a viable part of Bowen Research & Training Institute, Inc.
Antigen tests detect the organism itself and, unlike antibody tests, antigen tests aren't dependent upon a `sick' immune system to produce antibodies. The Central Florida Research laboratory in Lake Alfred, Florida is doing antigen testing. CFR's antigen test is a one of a kind. It is a direct fluorescent antibody test using a special kind of technique called Flow Cytometry. This Flow Cytometer is a specific instrument designed to identify bacteria 50,000 events are counted in one minute and the number of bacteria reacting with the Borrelia burgdorferi fluorescent antibody are enumerated in a diluted blood specimen and reported as a percent.
The Flow Cytometer enumerates fluorescing events. The results are expressed as ≤0.02% negative - 0.03% borderline -≥0.04 positive. The Borrelia burgdorferi Direct Fluorescent Antibody by Flow Cytometer test is the most definitive test of its kind available today. Since Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete, an antigen test is more accurate in detecting its presence in the blood than a test detecting antibodies.. The Flow Cytometry test from Central Florida Research is most beneficial in detecting Borrelia burgdorferi the causative agent for Lyme disease.
Understanding the microbiology behind the spirochete and cyst form of Borrelia burgdorferi and its ability to hide from our immune system, helps us understand the Lyme Disease controversies and the complications for testing for the bacteria. If the antibodies a person's body normally produces against an invading pathogen aren't always present, then we must have a test that detects the antigen. However, the antibody test(s) are accurate. If an antibody is developed, the test will detect it. Patients with Lyme disease do not always develop antibodies. The antibodies may disappear over a period of time. Testing for the spirochetes in blood presents a problem because spirochetes may be present in such minute numbers that it is difficult to get a sample with the spirochete present. The antigen test detects the spirochete as a spirochete or cyst. If the test is negative by Flow Cytometry, it does not mean that the patient does not have Lyme disease. The spirochete may not be present in the sample of blood collected or the number may be too small and the amount tested did not detect the microorganism. Symptoms are still the physician's greatest diagnostic tool, when used in conjunction with clinical testing.
Since Borrelia burgdorferi Direct Fluorescent Antibody by Flow Cytometry is an antigen test, the result is more accurate in detecting its presence in the blood than a test for antibodies.
Posts: 991 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Wow, This is great news~ and exciting to know that many more people might not go undiagnosed.
Does this mean the test is now available?
Thank You for this very important news. (and all your hard work)
Mar
Posts: 465 | From New York, NY | Registered: Aug 2005
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
Hooray, and congratulations to Bowen! I believe this is the most difinitive test currently available. ...Now to get it past the CDC!!!!
Off to Advocacy - What do we need to do to make this happen, so that the ducks will have to sit up and listen?
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
sandi, would you kindly break up the long solid blocks of text into smaller paragraphs?
click on pencil icon and break up those really LONG ones with ALL IMPORTANT INFO.
there are really long sentences; make them 1 paragraph please. thanks so we can comprehend and read.
so does lab have new name or bowen still exists? i'm so confused. perhaps after it's edited good, it may make sense.
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If you go to website www.lifelyme.org I believe it maybe easier to read and understand.
For additional info you can click on NEWS in the left hand column at the site for a more detailed explanation of the test.
There is additional in this article to help people understanding the nature of the bacteria, and why finally having an antigen test CLIA approved by the state for Lyme disease is going to make a big difference in the Lyme community.
State CLIA approval for the test puts pressure on the insurance companies to pay for the test.
Email me if you still have problems understanding the test.
Best wishes, SandiB
Posts: 991 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
A CDC rep works with the folks who do the CLIA approval, so bejoy, this is it, it did go past the CDC. By the way, it is very difficult to get state approval in the state of Florida.
This lab has been open for two years. The bookeeper and the receptionist are the only people from Bowen that work at CFR. The Bowen Technique is not CFR or vice versa. The Bowen Lab is defunct, it is no longer.
Posts: 134 | Registered: Dec 2002
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
So does this mean that ducktors in New York and California have to pay attention to the results of this test, or does the CDC still tell them they have to give you the ELISA and Western Blot?
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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Boomerang
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7979
posted
Wow......
Thanks for the info Sandi!
Posts: 1366 | From Southeast | Registered: Sep 2005
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