Topic: Most accurate testing - esp. for coinfections
mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
I've had Igenex tests but after a few years of treatment with no remission (but a lot of improvement) I'd like to retest - especially for co-infections.
Cost isn't an issue - I figure I've already invested a fortune - best to know exactly what I need to hit hard.
Thanks for your help.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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posted
It's a good idea to do a full confection workup - lyme that doesn't resolve is quite likely being hindered by at least one co.
Posts: 161 | From vancouver island | Registered: Feb 2012
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Hubby has been extremely disappointed with his most recent round of testing.
You don't say if you plan to go off antibiotics prior to testing or not? That would make a big difference in both results and also which tests are available.
Hubby went off meds for 50 days (30 days minimum is suggested by many labs) and then the plan was to do a 7 day antibiotic challenge and wait 3 days to retest. He got so sick (ER and hospitalization) when he added back meds that he was not able to stop the meds for 3 days -- he just stayed on the meds and kept adding more. He went ahead and did the tests and results were not impressive.
The theory is that if you stop meds then you should be able to culture pathogens easier. Also the med challenge should cause your body to produce antibodies for those type of tests. And the antibiotics should kill some pathogens so PCR results will have more DNA available.
Galaxy Lab is probably the number one choice for bart testing -- but must be off meds for the culture to be valid. Hubby did not do this test as bart does not seem to be his major infection.
Advanced Labs does a culture test for lyme -- but again must be off meds. Hubby did not do this test either -- thought it was a waste of money since it is highly unlikely his lyme is gone. Also not sure if the test is valid for the European strains which is what he probably has based on other tests.
Fry Labs for FL1953 -- does stains and PCR. Hubby did not do this test -- does not think he has this pathogen.
ECP test for babesia -- hubby's test results were invalid as the day hubby repeated the test after antibiotic/antimalarial/antiparasitic treatment he had zero eosinophils so the 2nd (challenge) test could not show an increase in ECP. Also the lab has recently changed their test ranges -- need higher numbers to get a positive (abnormal) test.
Bloodslide from Clongen -- one of the best tests for unknown pathogens. Hubby did still show coccobacilli attacking his WBC's but on this particular test babesia and his unknown dumbbell parasite were not visible.
Phase contrast microscopy of live blood cells -- the 2nd best test (after Clongen) in my opinion. Showed ring forms of babesia, low level of coccobacilli (probably bart), dumbbell parasite, and l-forms of lyme. Test results depend greatly on the experience of the technician and the amount of time spent looking at the blood -- 45 minutes in hubby's case.
SpiroStat Labs -- very disappointing test results. Lab does PCR testing for supposedly all 70 known insect borne pathogens. Hubby did the lyme panel (includes much more than just lyme) and the babesia panels each 2 times -- using both venous and capillary blood.
A total waste of $975. The lab found zero pathogens -- despite results of Clongen and phase contrast microscope above. After ordering the test found out that if unknown pathogens are discovered the lab is legally not allowed to tell the patient or doctor of those discoveries.
LabCorp results for rickettia and RMSF and ehrlichia and anaplasma -- antibody levels have fluctuated so much for hubby since last summer that results are confusing to say the least.
LabCorp antibody test for babesia duncani (WA1) -- send out to Focus Technologies. Currently hubby's results are negative (<256) even though he has responded to restarting babesia meds and the blood smear results from the microscopy above.
Then there is the immune based lyme test -- can't think of the lab name. Hubby has never done that test and I am doubtful that it would be positive since his CRP is only 2 or 4 most of the time.
One test that I do wish we had repeated -- the Immunoserology of Lyme Panel from Immunosciences Lab. Hubby had that done in 2007 I think it was. The lab was out of business for a couple of years but has restarted in the last year or so. That test looks for things that other labs do not test for.
Need to sign off now.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
Tks. I should have mentioned that I Rife and I haven't been on ABX for years.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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