posted
I came across Bowen labs (wwqw.bowen.org)who claim that their Lyme tests are 100% accurate. Dr. Whitaker is the person who discovered these, I think.
Has anyone here done tests with them? Are they, in fact, good?
Posts: 29 | From Toronto, Canada | Registered: May 2005
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posted
My LLMD strongly encourages her patients to take the Bowen test, despite the cost involved. (When I took it, it was still considered a research test, so a tax-refundable donation of $250 was required.) However, since then it has received a US patent, so I'm not sure how that plays into insurance right now. I will be taking it again after about a year of treatment (I began treatment in late January).
The test determines existence of the actual Bb bacteria (and co-infection bacteria), not simply the antibodies to the bacteria (as in the Western Blot and ELISA). Your test results will include a ``titer score'', which details the concentration of LD bacteria in your system. My titer was second to the highest on the scale and my mom's was the highest option on the scale when she first took the test. However, after a year of treatment, she took it again and her titer was half way down the scale, which is very encouraging. (Her LLMD believes she's had LD for at least 25 years, so it was pretty ``settled in'' so to speak.)
Anyway, I hope this information is helpful and not too confusing. I'm not a doctor, so this is all in laymen's terms of course.
posted
I just heard Dr. Whitaker speak yesterday, and I am very impressed by the premise of and data backing her tests and their accuracy. I just hope they become mainstream sometime.
Julie
Posts: 307 | From Byfield, MA | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Since you're in Canada, the Tax-deductible donation would not help you with your income tax.
However, Bowen tests for Lyme, Babesiosis, & Ehrlichiosis for $250.
If your physician is willing to work with you, he can sign up with Bowen & they will give him directions & forms that are needed. There is a questionaire about symptoms, etc, that they ask the patient to fill out.
Blood should be drawn early in the week so it gets to them before the weekend. Test results are Faxed to your dr within 24 hrs of receiving the blood sample. Full report follows in a day or two.
If they find the Lyme bacteria in your blood, they take digital photos of it & include in the report. Same for Babesiosis & Ehrlichiosis.
They were the only lab that found I had Babesiosis in addition to Lyme, so I hold them in high esteem.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Hey ssaakk....Meet us over in Medical Questions. That's where most of the "gang" is! You'll get alot more responses to your medical questions there. Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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MammaLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1257
posted
Best test around. We have been using Bowen since it saved my life in 2001. Until then, I had gone to all of the lyme testing places including MDL; Igenex; BBI; then Quest and many other regular blood labs. Then a doctor told us about Bowen and that was it. We go there at least two a year to see how the count is going.
Recently, my husband went from the highest count of 1:128 to 1:64 after being on an IV for 6 months. Now he is continuing on Bicillin shots and Ketek.
They are still a research lab and the US people can take them off of their taxes since they are a 501(C)(3) organization. When they get the FDA approval, is when they will be the only approved lyme testing lab.
quote:Originally posted by MammaLyme: Best test around. We have been using Bowen since it saved my life in 2001. Until then, I had gone to all of the lyme testing places including MDL; Igenex; BBI; then Quest and many other regular blood labs. Then a doctor told us about Bowen and that was it. We go there at least two a year to see how the count is going.
Mamma LYME, I did a search and saw your post. I tested Neg, think I have late lymes and doc didnt want to treat me. Just posted a question ignenex vs bowen. do you know if they reccomment you to be off antibiotics before a blood draw? thanks Recently, my husband went from the highest count of 1:128 to 1:64 after being on an IV for 6 months. Now he is continuing on Bicillin shots and Ketek.
They are still a research lab and the US people can take them off of their taxes since they are a 501(C)(3) organization. When they get the FDA approval, is when they will be the only approved lyme testing lab.
Posts: 145 | From NorthEast US | Registered: Aug 2005
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