posted
Hi. I recently tested positive for Lyme and a co infection through igenx. (this is year 7 for me with having tick diseases)
I am on the quest to find a new specialist, and as I call different offices and get info, it seems not everyone agrees with igenx.
I was under the impression they are the better lab. One office told me igenx isn't good and that they use quest and a place called n20 (or something that sounds like that)
I would love to get some feedback on what folks feel are the better labs to use.
Very scary throughing money at a new doctors, and they all tell you different things as if it is fact.
Really appreciate it... Thanks!
Posts: 8 | From nj | Registered: Jun 2016
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hiker53
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6046
posted
In my opinion, Igenex is much better than quest.
With Igenex I tested positive and I did not even test positive at Mayo despite my thoughts and assertions that I had Lyme.
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 8879 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Absolutely, Igenex is far, far better than Quest in so, so many ways. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- It's also not just a matter of the lab (though Igenex tests bands no other lab does and that matters greatly) . . .
where you go to have the blood sample drawn, how they handle it, the time of day it gets handed over to FedEx for overnight delivery . . .
the day of the week it's done, time of day (to be sure it's ready for their FedEx pickup) . . . there are so many things that can interfere.
If you go with Igenex, be certain that every single step is done exactly to specifications. Follow up to be sure.
Updated by SF: 06 May 2016 -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Although you already have your test results, detail above is good to have on hand to answer various questions.
You say that you are "on the quest to find a new specialist, and as I call different offices and get info, it seems not everyone agrees with igenx."
You are calling the WRONG doctors. They are IDSA affiliate, most certainly. Their responses do help you know that they are absolutely not able / willing / going to help you.
Find an ILADS educated LLMD or LL ND (naturopathic doctor).
I know all this is very disconcerting and stressful to say the least. Still, IMO, it's better to have no doctor than a bad one regarding this matter.
I do hope you can connect with all your lyme support groups with a couple hundred mile radius and get some doctor suggestions that you can afford.
If not, though, do not despair. There are still some things you can do for yourself while you figure this out.
Also ask the closer lyme groups to you for lyme "friendly" PCP suggestions for you will need that, too. They would not treat lyme but they should not stand in your way and support you in some foundational ways. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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ILADS -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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me
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45475
posted
Igenex by far is better.
-------------------- Just sharing my experiences, opinions, and what I've read and learned. Not medical advice. Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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posted
obviously igenex is the gold standard but I did get a positive babesia from quest.
Posts: 3 | From RI | Registered: Aug 2016
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Igenex is the gold standard but perhaps these doctors are taking into account the cost? Some doctors will see if they can get a positive test through a standard lab before considering Igenex.
Maybe you could ask them to take cost out of the equation and then answer the question.
Personally I've been frustrated at times with recommendations that doctors have held back due to their perception that it would have been too expensive to recommend.
Once a doctor said she would have recommended dry brushing but thought the brushes were too expensive to recommend. And I was like, are you kidding? They are cheap compared to the costs of doing nothing, or other things!
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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bluelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 47170
posted
If you tested positive already then searching for llmd and choosing treatment is next . Get on herbals while younwait ..read buhner ,read this site watch justinandchristie ..welcome sorry
-------------------- Blue Posts: 1539 | From southwest | Registered: Dec 2015
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Phoiph
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 41238
posted
I recently posed this same question (on behalf of someone who had been infected in Minnesota) to a Lyme practitioner who is very informed on the latest testing...here was her reply:
"...We have a few more TBD [Tick Borne Diseases] testing options now, and more coming in the pipeline. The choice depends on each person's condition and their ability to either pay for the tests, or stick to what their insurance covers.
Minnesota has a lot of Babesia as well as Bartonella, so he'll want to be sure to order the complete confection panel.
If he has Medicare, then choose IGeneX's complete lyme and co infection panel. He should ask his physician to pretreat with a cyst buster such as Tindamax 500 mg twice per day for 3 weeks prior.
Other Insurances will often cover this out of network lab up to 80%. They can often miss Bartonella, however.
So, if he has signs of Bartonella (most common of all infections) he should consider having the Galaxy triple draw with IFA's. This test needs to be drawn after a minimum of 1 month without antibiotics.
Medicare seems to be reimbursing only about 1/3 of the cost though.
The CD 57 count from Lab Corp is always helpful..."
.............................................
(breaking up the post for easier reading for many here)
posted
IGeneX is fine! We are fortunate to have such a quality lab.
Just know there's a lot of politics involved with this illness, and doctors out there will tell you anything, but come here and talk with us patients and we will let you know!
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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