My doctor is testing me for all co-infections and re-testing for Lyme bands (so far I have only done 6 weeks of treatment).
My insurance will NOT pay for Igenex. I did get a positive WB from ARP labs out of Salt Lake City...anyone heard of them??
I want to make sure I use a lab that is good for testing for co-infections this next go round.
Any recommendations other than Igenex? would labcorp or quest be ok?
Also is it ok to draw blood on Wed? Will they get it turned in before the weekend?
Posted by JKMMC09 (Member # 15795) on :
Our LLMD has tested my daughter thru Stonybrook Lab in Long Island, as well as Clongen Lab in MD.
I would not recommend Labcorp or Quest for Lyme/Co testing.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Quest can be decent in the test for Babesia WA-1. (which may/probably picks up babesia duncani, from what I'm understanding) Some people have gotten positives with that. I wouldn't trust it completely.
I have gotten a positive for babesia duncani from Sonoma County Public Health Lab.
I also tested positive for barontella henselae from Quest, on IgG, but I'm not sure how reliable it is for most, and there are multiple species of bartonella.
Tested positive on Quest for mycoplasma pneumoniae too, but I could have been lucky, who knows.
I would choose Quest over Lab Corp.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
txlymie,
NO on 2 labs you mentioned in my NON-MEDICAL opinion!
are you on medicare??
if yes, igenex will be paid in full except for about $30 ??
7. FRY LABORITORY, ARIZONA to test for CO-INFECTIONS $ 400
BLOOD SMEARS cost was $295 . Anyone can download the order form for all of their tests from their website. The kit costs $15 but a doctor's office can order for free.
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
You cant afford igenex ? You cant afford not to use them really.
Posted by MorningSong (Member # 19989) on :
My LLMD tested through Quest Diagnostics which came back positive for Lyme and 2 co-infections.
Posted by TxLymie (Member # 20847) on :
How much does Igenex cost for Lyme and co-infections?
I am not on medicare.
I just don't understand why some labs are better than others or why it is that so many think Igenex is the only one who is 'accurate'. Seems lots of people have gotten positive results from various labs. I did anyway.
Isn't the WB a test that would be done the same anywhere....aren't there standards, protocols for the test that have to be followed?
I looked at the Igenex site and it looks great. I have a marketing degree and it looks like they do a great marketing job. I'm not sayng they aren't great or even the best.......I just don't understand why other labs cannot do the test as well.
Posted by cjohnson (Member # 21271) on :
My first LLMD recommended Stony Brook for Lyme testing and MDL lab in NJ for co-infections. Both labs accept insurance. That being said, my new LLMD has requested I atleast get western blot at Igenix; it is only $200 so no not that bad out of pocket for piece of mind.
Chris
Posted by TxLymie (Member # 20847) on :
Thanks for the info on Stony brook and MDL. Maybe my insurance will cover those. Since I already have a positive WB, I'm not going to use Igenex for now.
Thanks for all who responded!
Posted by Eliz428 (Member # 21509) on :
I would seriously reconsider that. I had a positive CDC positive WB from Labcorp in February and just received a negative (2 bands) from Stony Brook. I'm now concerned that my ins. will say that the two weeks of doxy I got in March cured me and discontinue treatment.
You'll pay twice, trust me. Do Igenex. If I had the chance to do over again I would! I paid about $500 for Quest and Stony Brook testing and all came back negative.
I believe after reading Dr. C's WB guides that its because my appt was on a Friday afternoon and the blood didn't get there until the next week. It was 3-5 days before the tests were run from the blood draw date. Not a good decision. I wish I had known.
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
For doing a Lyme WB, IGeneX is the clear gold standard. Here is some information on why that is the case:
I don't know offhand if they are any/much better than other labs with co-infection testing, however.
If you are having an issue with costs or insurance coverage, I would ask for a clinical diagnosis for the co-infections, as they also have poor testing/testing weaknesses. The whole of Tick-borne disease testing is very poor as it stands today.
So, if money is an issue, it makes the most sense to get a clinical diagnosis (since that is what the CDC recommends anyway), and go from there. If you have a positive Lyme WB test, the odds are that you have at least one co-infection. Ticks generally carry several infections at once.
Testing ONLY is useful in TBDs if you can get a positive test to help back up the clinical diagnosis. It is helpful in that it can assist with getting insurance coverage, and it can help ease your own doubts.
However, any negative test, even if it is a false negative, can and likely will be used against you by your insurance carrier.
Whatever you decide, good luck.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
igenex western blot and co-infections run around $1,000 .... little under.
you'd have to call and get their current prices 1.800.832.3200 .. they update it twice yearly; many do NOT increase ... others do and they add additional tests too.
fyi, when i was diagnosed postiive by igx 5 yrs. ago this month, local clinic sent my blood for W.B. out again this time to mayo clinic, minn.
it came back neg. of both since they had only tested 2 proteins on 1 and ONLY 5 proteins on 2nd. they don't have the most modern, up to date equipment.
so that's why we recommend certain ones.
i was told lately that stoneybrooke isn't good on lyme testing, but WONDERFUL FOR CO-INFECTIONS....
Posted by Eliz428 (Member # 21509) on :
Gosh Betty seriously? They sent my WB to Stonybrook, my co-infections to Quest and just a Babesia Fish to Igenex.
This was one of the top LLMDs why don't they know that?
I guess it's my fault. They did offer to send all to Igenex but I didn't want to spend the $1000 since I already had a CDC + from Labcorp. I was sure that it would come back positive again.
So much to learn.
Posted by gemofnj (Member # 15551) on :
TX,
I dont think my tests #88, #89 cost that much. You can look that up on the website.
But basically, the reason this lab is the gold standard is because they are the only ones that run 15 types of lyme bands.
other generic labs such as quest & labcorp use 3-5 bands. could be why some folks come up negative, because they miss most of the bands.
if you already have a positive test result, you might want to save your money for later in treatment to see if you have improved any.
good luck )
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
eliz, yes, it was on the board and quite a few commented the same way .....
sorry to be the bearer of bad news! just reporting from those who tested THERE ....
eliz, nothing about lyme is NOT COMPLICATED & OVERWHELMING AND OUT OF POCKET!
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