Topic: C3a - C4a - LabCorp - Anyone See This Notice?
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I just noticed this today on Dr. S' website. Any chance all the prior results of this test were BS based on improper handling? I would be ****ed if true.. hmm..
posted
Past results may have been falsley elevated.
The new kit for testing will stabilze the specimen.
Be nice if they could track who had the test in the past and inform the doctor/patient. Will not likey happen.
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
It sure would be nice Kitty. Seems like the RESPONSIBLE thing to do when patients are thinking they have mold poisoning based on crazy high C4a results. Why isn't Dr. S stepping up to the plate here as I'm sure the test was developed for him most likely? These are the kinds of things that give alternative medicine a bad name.
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posted
Anyone know what it means when your c3 is a bit elevated? Don't understand what this test messures?
Posts: 96 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2011
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
C3a elevation supposedly is more indicative of chronic Lyme. C4a moreso of mold with normal C3a level. Who knows if anything he says is fully accurate? lol.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Thank you. What if your c3a is not even that high? Is that a good thing? Don't think mold is an issue for me.
Posts: 96 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2011
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I'm sure we'll all get our money back, along with a new test, free this time, and an apology.
Posts: 845 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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feelfit
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Member # 12770
posted
@nomoremuscles, lol. in a perfect world!
Seek, I read about this early this morning, was posted in my Fl. Lyme Group.
As I understand it, Kitty is correct, prior results were probably falsely high because of the instability. *sigh*.
the results of that test take a long time too!!
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Does this mean that the basic premise of high c4a may be wrong if all past labs over the years (?) were based on falsely high numbers?
I think my MD was telling me that he was getting high numbers with people with no exposure and symptomology.
So was Shoemaker not looking at people who dont have biotoxin illness?
How do we know the biotoxin pathway is just a biotoxin pathway and not just another manifestation of a inflammation pathway which could be caused by biotoxins or other factors?
Posts: 861 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
I think .. could be wrong.. c3a is elevated in acute lyme not always in chronic lyme. But if the results were potentially effected in the past as well?
Posts: 861 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Does Dr. S have ANY idea how much expense / unnecessary treatment this could have caused? OMG. Not cool. He clearly states elevated C4a is THE #1 indicator of mold exposure.
It makes my stomach sink thinking people are / were dropping THOUSANDS of dollars in treatment cost / consult fees with him if not the true issue.
Someone / somewhere OWES it to people who had this test done before a damn good explanation and free re-testing. What a bunch of crap as I waited 38 days to get my test result, which was most likely garbage as no special test kit was used.
Where's these labs responsibility to their patients?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
I would not completely discount his work. This is obviously a lab error and it looks like shoemaker is trying to adjust to it now. it does suck, but the other markers are also important. VIP, MSH, Leptin, VEGF, MMP9, TGF-beta1, and the VCS test.
-------------------- "You'll be surprised to know how far you can go from the point you thought it was the end" Posts: 946 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Good point R62. UnexpectedIlls, I hope you're right about other markers having significance. Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I found this post on a blog recently:
Here is the deal with the C3a & the C4a LabCorp no longer sends the frozen plasma to National Jewish (NJC) in Denver. They have also changed the test codes. This is as of April 25, 2011.
The test numbers for the new tests are as follows: Complement C3a � 004220 Complement C4a � 004330
Please make sure you let your doctors know this. You will need to call LabCorp in advance & request that they send a test kit (or kits) to whichever LabCorp lab branch you will be getting your blood drawn. The new collection tubes contain EDTA/Futhan, which limits formation of C3a and C4a after collection.
I requested mine on Friday so I will call first & see if they got the kit in Tuesday. She did say it may take 2-3 days. Since this is a new test. I would make sure you tell the person drawing your blood how it is to be handled (they probably won't like this, but I will be nice about it & explain that I had it done wrong the first time). I will call first & make sure the test tube is "chilled" before they draw my blood.
Then the lab technician is to add something to the test tube immediately & send it frozen. This is very important. Here are the instructions. They are very specific & this is new testing, so maybe even print instructions & insist it's done correctly.
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Why isn't Dr. S stepping up to the plate here as I'm sure the test was developed for him most likely? These are the kinds of things that give alternative medicine a bad name.
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