Anyone know about the differences between these two labs? (cost, accuracy, acceptabilty by insurance companies, etc.) I've not used either.
Friend PAM
Posted by Clarissa (Member # 4715) on :
Igenex takes Medicare and Blue Cross and probably some others (that's what I've used)...not sure if Fry takes anything.
Fry is strong for Bartonella testing and Igenex FISH test is strong for Babs testing.
Igenex for Lyme and Ehrlichia, too.
Ideally, you do both labs.
Clarissa
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
Blue Cross didn't cover my IGenex testing.
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
It really depends on your insurance plan on what is covered. I have a great plan with Aetna, will loose it next month, but they paid half of my blood slide test with Fry labs. and also paid 100% for my last Igenex test.
Fry labs found bart for me.
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
Just to clarify, the only thing IGeneX actually will "take" is Medicare.
All others: Pay up front first. Then get reimbursed by your own insurance company.
(Blue Cross just reimbursed a friend of mine $21 for the IGeneX western blot...i.e., presumably the amount they would pay Quest.)
Not so sure on Fry Labs.
Both are excellent. Fry Labs does the awesome blood smear analysis, even providing a photograph. This can be useful when you have a type of babesia (or Bart) that isn't among the types routinely tested for, even by IGenex.
Michelle
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
if anyone can post the CURRENT RATES for FRY LABS testing for:
lyme
babs/bart/ehlicha
member Scott Forsgren stated earlier that fry labs was 1/3 + the cost of igenex's COINFECTION TESTINGS! he was impressed by them and felt they were equal to igenex standards.
i also have bcbs; they reimbursed me either $30-40 the 1st time! all explained in my newbie package.
so if someone could post that, i'll update my newbie package to have in there for future for all who join or want my compiled info from EVERYONE! big thanks! Posted by barksplinter (Member # 13249) on :
If you need a Western Blot; IgenX runs about 14 bands... Fry about 3... I think. The Fry blood smears pics are impressive for Bartonella and Babesia... but I don't think the lab would tell you they are 100% correct for a negative.
Posted by ICEiam (Member # 7519) on :
Blue Cross/Blue Shield just paid all of my granddaughter's IgeneX testing. I guess it depends on who you talk to and how persistant you are with them at your insurance office.
HUGS
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Igenex dosent take insurance but you pay them then when you get your reciept send that to your insurance then the insurance reimbersus you.
Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :
quote:Originally posted by treepatrol: ...... then the insurance reimbersus you.
or not. They did not reimburse me.
robi
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
IGeneX was the first lab to pick up my Lyme after having several negative Quest Lyme tests. I eventually pulled a positive through Quest though, but only after treatment had started.
IGeneX was he first and only lab to pick up my babesia. I tested negative on the northeastern panel, but I was positive first time they did the southeastern panel.
Will Fry send me a test kit for bart? I'm still negative, and Cipro pretty much kills me.
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Yup- Fry does blood smear analysis and can catch Bartonella strains or babs strains not tested for at Igenex- direct detection, no false positives...
but insurance companies will pay more attention to positives from Igenex- just because it fits in with how they function more-
Posted by Friend PAM (Member # 10051) on :
Thanks to all who responded! All useful information. Maybe I should start a new threat now with my further questions about this, but in case anyone is still reading this, I'll put them here:
1) Do I need a lab script from a doctor to send my blood to Fry labs? The LLMD I'm about to see in NJ uses Igenex, and I can see that it might be good to do both. How do you get your blood drawn from a local lab to send it to Fry lab? When I sent my blood once to Medical Diagnostics in NJ, my doctor locally agreed to write out the order for the tests so I could take it to the lab attached to her hospital based practice.
2) I have Humana insurance company and am not sure if they'll cover either lab. Is it best to ask them first or just to send in the reciepts and hope it gets covered. Does having a doctor's order for the tests help improve the likelihood that they'll cover it?
Thanks! Friend PAM
Posted by Chia Pet (Member # 12399) on :
quote:Originally posted by bettyg: if anyone can post the CURRENT RATES for FRY LABS testing for:
lyme
babs/bart/ehlicha
member Scott Forsgren stated earlier that fry labs was 1/3 + the cost of igenex's COINFECTION TESTINGS! he was impressed by them and felt they were equal to igenex standards.
i also have bcbs; they reimbursed me either $30-40 the 1st time! all explained in my newbie package.
so if someone could post that, i'll update my newbie package to have in there for future for all who join or want my compiled info from EVERYONE! big thanks!
I have the Fry Labs blood vile package somewhere here at home. I will post when I find it and also PM you.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
quote:Originally posted by Friend PAM:
1) Do I need a lab script from a doctor to send my blood to Fry labs? The LLMD I'm about to see in NJ uses Igenex, and I can see that it might be good to do both. How do you get your blood drawn from a local lab to send it to Fry lab?
When I sent my blood once to Medical Diagnostics in NJ, my doctor locally agreed to write out the order for the tests so I could take it to the lab attached to her hospital based practice.
2) I have Humana insurance company and am not sure if they'll cover either lab. Is it best to ask them first or just to send in the reciepts and hope it gets covered.
Does having a doctor's order for the tests help improve the likelihood that they'll cover it?
Pam, In my NON-medical opinion, YES, you would need a slip for EACH LAB you want your blood sent to.
RNs, please join in and correct me if I'm wrong.
Pam, call your insurance co. NOW and ask if they will cover or not. IT GETS EXPENSIVE ALL OUT OF POCKET!
Fry's Lab no. is (480) 991.4555; if they have a price list, ask them to send it to you and ME; you have my address.
If you are on SSDI and have medicare, it's paid in full from Igenex. no knowledge on Fry labs..
Having a drs. slip requiring this does NOT help; it all depends on SPECIFIC INSURANCE PLAN you have!
Pam, I received the Igenex new 9-07 $$ yesterday too. thanks so much! Posted by ICEiam (Member # 7519) on :
BC/BS misunderstood our instructions on who to send the check to for granddaughter's WB ........but we got the check yesterday and BC/BS paid the whole amount for her WB at IgeneX.
IT amazes me that the same company will pay for some and not others. I just don't get it.
What happened with us was........our BC/BS rep. called IgeneX to find out if we were the ones that really had to submit the bill and not trying to pull a scam.
Since we are out of state BC/BS was under the impression that IgeneX was to subit it to CA BC/BS. It also depends on your plan. We have a pretty good plan as far as coverage goes.
They would only pay for a month for a PICC line for Rocephin for my daughter. Then we had to do it ourselves. We did get the Rocephin for a good price though.
When we did granddaughter's co infections our LLMD sent her tests to MDL and they took our insurance and paid all with no questions.
All this insurance stuff is ummm, (can I say that here?)
HUGS,
Posted by ICEiam (Member # 7519) on :
I just remembered something. When my daughter was first tested for Lyme at IgeneX, I bullied an MD in Boise to order the IgeneX testing.
She wrote the order and I took it to one of the hospitals there. The Lab called IgeneX (I provided the phone number) to find out what they needed to do and what IgeneX needed.
The hospital took all our insurance information just like it was any other test being done for whatever. We had an Order from the MD just stating to send blood to IgeneX.
Insurance paid full amount with no questions. Then when LLMD had her retested later all he did was write the order. We took it to the same hospital and went through the same process and IgeneX was paid in full by the Hospital, (I assume) and the hospital was paid by the insurance company?
I don't know how this works but that may be a way to get around having to pay for testing out of pocket. We were new at this back then so I didn't have a clue about the insurance problems.
There has to be a way to make these insurance companies pay more for this disease!!! We pay them into their black hole.
HUGS,
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
pam, i did get you confused with the OTHER PAM frequent poster! thx !!
Posted by ElaineC (Member # 9857) on :
I would also be interested in Fry's price list, if anyone has it?? Thanks!
Posted by docjen (Member # 7510) on :
BC/BS didn't pay a penny for IgeneX or Fry in my case. I chased it for months, resubmitting, over and over and over..... complete run-around. I paid $295 for Bart test at Fry I think...FYI.
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