17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
We have no health insurance but I'm would really be interested in getting a CD57 done. Just wondering how much it might cost me.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I know you have your reasons for wanting the test. However, unless you are swimming in money, you might want to put the money toward direct treatment.
Mine cost under a hundred dollars a few years ago and it was money wasted, in my case. It told me nothing I did not already know.
The CD57 is not that definitive of a test (and it can vary from time to time). Some LL doctors don't even use it anymore. You may be able to go more on how you are doing, if your LL doctor has a lot of experience to interpret your progress at this point. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I believe it is $125 from IGENEX.
I got one a couple of months ago. The doctor did not give me the results for two months. Otherwise I would have been alerted me to the fact that borellia, which I thought was gone, was very active. Shortly afterward I had joint pain start up.
I sure would not quit treatment without a CD57 over 100.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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-------------------- HERX is a Four Letter Word! Posts: 716 | From If you're going through hell, keep going......Winston Churchill | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
$153 thru Labcorp. I just did one a few weeks ago. They will not lower the price if you dont have ins either
-------------------- Neuro symptoms since 1995. Dx'd Bart in 10-09. Biaxin/Tindamax 10-10 thru 2-11 Factive 3-11 thru 5-11 Factive/ Rifampin 9-11 thru 11-11 IV Rocephin/ Tindamaz. 11-11 thru 1-12/ IV Rocephin/ Flagyl / Factive 1-12 thru present Posts: 69 | From Florida | Registered: Dec 2009
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Tricky Tickey
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26546
posted
I paid the same at Labcorp: $153
-------------------- Early Disseminated LD- 2010. Currently doing acupuncture and yoga. Negative Igenex (IND & Pos Bands) ISSUES AFTER: Tendonitis, letter reversal, Low immune system. PREVENTION:SaltC,Iodine,Humaworm, Chiropractic. Posts: 1013 | From In a van down by the river. | Registered: Jun 2010
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
Oooh, you guys are good!
My CD57 at the beginning of my treatment w/ LLMD was 378 and at the end of treatment 13 months later was 360.
Now, after Bionic treatment and herbs, I'm curious to see what it might be.
And yes, Keebler, I'm one of those who doesn't hold a whole lot of stock in the test.
But at this point, I guess I'll just live with my curiousity as we can't afford that much.
Thanks for the info, Ya'll!
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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gmb
Unregistered
posted
Those are pretty strong numbers. Were both tests at LabCorp?
I'ld say save the money. A year ago I was at 42, and I recall others who have posted here to be only in the teens.
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Summer3
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35286
posted
I decided to get it when I did my other tests with Igenex. I had 2 negative Elisa tests previously, so I was concerned about the Western Blot for Lyme and Co's coming back negative too. I had pretty much all normal blood work, but I knew that something was seriously wrong because my symptoms were getting really bad.
I thought it was a good idea to add the CD57 test as an additional result either normal or abnormal. I think it was between $120 and $130 from Igenex.
My number was 19 on the CD57 test. The western blot came back positive anyway, but I was still glad I had this test done. My LLMD does put some stock into the CD57 for guiding treatment.
I had the tests after I was told I was "overtreated" (with 28 days of doxy) for Lyme, it was "impossible" for Lyme or Co-infections to have survived, and they refused to do a standard western blot claiming that I wouldn't have any antibodies to pick up. Of course this was all by a rheumatologist and a family doctor. I was just happy to have some evidence that I wasn't a hypochondriac or having psychological issues like they were insinuating.
MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
Ditto the directlabs.com. This is the "discount" way of getting labs through LabCorp (the only place to bother with CD57 in my opinion), for those without insurance. Also, you don't have the bother of dealing with doctors, making an appointment to get the test requisition, going over it, and all that. Directlabs gives you the test requisition and will provide you with online results typically in a couple days (for this test).
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
So directlabs is LabCorp?
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
DirectLabs is a separate company from LabCorp. DirectLabs will give you a script and pay LabCorp to do the test for you, so they are a giving you a script that can only be used at LabCorp (which is fine if you want the LabCorp CD57). DirectLabs has some exclusive arrangement with LabCorp, probably to get a better quantity discount kind of thing.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
Lyme CD57 Test THE CD-57 Striker Panel Test Our ability to measure CD-57 counts represents a breakthrough in Chronic Lyme Disease treatment. It can be used to help determine how active the infection is, how well the treatment is working, and whether, after treatment ends, a relapse is likely to occur!
This is how it works: Chronic Lyme infections are known to suppress the immune system. The Lyme spirochete can affect all major cell types of the immune system, but it most clearly can impact a specific subset of the natural killer cells. This is called the CD-57 subset. Just as in HIV infection, which suppresses T-cell counts, Lyme suppresses Natural killer cell count such as CD57. As in HIV infection, where abnormally low T-cell counts are routinely used as a marker of how active the infection is, in Lyme we can use the CD-57 count to indicate how active the Lyme infection is.
When Lyme is active, the CD-57 count is suppressed. We currently are having our tests run by LabCorp because published research on this test was based on their methods. At this lab, the expected range for the CD 57 count is above 60. However, in the chronic Lyme patient, CD-57 counts are usually well below 60 and may be at risk with levels of 60-100.
This test can be run at the start of therapy, then every several months to document the effectiveness of treatment. One hopes to see a stable number or a rising trend over time. When antibiotic therapy is finally at an end, if the CD-57 count is not above 60, then a Lyme relapse is more likely to occur.
Test interpretation: Low CD57 occurs in chronic Lyme or when the disease has been active for over 1 year. A review of the affects of other infections, only Lyme spirochetes lowers the CD57. Following is the criteria established by research.
Test interpretation: Low CD57 occurs in chronic Lyme or when the disease has been active for over 1 year. The count reflects the degree of infection. It is not a diagnostic test but is used as a marker for Lyme being active. Test done by LabCorp.
>200 is normal < 20 severe illness 0-60 is seen in chronic Lyme disease > 60 Lyme activity indicates improvement
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
I understand that a number on or above the upper end of the scale ("normal" being 60-360) can occur with coinfections. I think I remember BoxerMom saying her numbers had been above 360 as mine were. We both attribute this (I think, if I can speak for BoxerMom) to Babesia.
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
-------------------- Everything I say is just my opinion! Posts: 3529 | From Massachusetts Boston Area | Registered: Jul 2008
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
quote:Originally posted by manybites: Mine was 110 since 3 years ago and I was sick to death and 2 years after I have had the same thing and did not indicate that I do not have lyme activated.I treated lyme with herbs 6 months than 2 1/2 years on antibiotics than Bionic than had the test that showed the same as above. Ironicly I had a car accident and the lyme showed up with the pain in my bunion that meant I still had the lyme in me but Babesia and bartonella were killing me and were FULLY activated .I would not spent money in to it.
I'm not sure I'm following you, but it seems like you are saying that your CD57 test indicated lower than normal levels, and then you had treatment which, based on symptoms, was inadequate, and then the test still indicated lower than normal levels. Sounds like the test was relatively consistent with what else had gone on.
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