How accurate is LabCorp for bart?
Posted by Lemon-Lyme (Member # 19229) on :
Hmm... not sure. Do you know if they do it in-house or send it out?
I had my tests done by Sunrise Labs, who sent to Mayo, and it came back positive for me (both strains). But keep in mind that I think all labs can only test for two species, so there are many Bart strains that they don't test for.
And I usually don't see antibiotic challenges mentioned for Bartonella, but antibiotics seemed to get my Bart angry.
My initial Bartonella tests were negative. After a couple months of antibiotics I started getting feet/leg pain, then we retested and the positive result showed up.
Posted by jennie46 (Member # 20953) on :
Test will be sent out, not sure where though. I have been off abx for 2-1/2 weeks, needed a break. I have never taken any abx for bart though. Does that matter? Should I take abx tomorrow AM before test?
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Labcorp does a good job with its Bartonella antibody tests. They test for more than one strain and often pick it up when PCR's and other labs don't.
My thought is... I doubt taking an antibiotic in the morning will have any effect on the test.
Posted by jennie46 (Member # 20953) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tincup: Labcorp does a good job with its Bartonella antibody tests. They test for more than one strain and often pick it up when PCR's and other labs don't.
My thought is... I doubt taking an antibiotic in the morning will have any effect on the test.
Great news! Thank you!
Posted by Lemon-Lyme (Member # 19229) on :
A single dose would be very unlikely to matter. I just mentioned the antibiotic thing, in case you had been taking them for a while. There is a chance it could push a previously negative result to positive.
And I'm not sure if it matters if it was an antibiotic specifically geared towards Bart. I was on Doxy when my foot pain started up. Although a week of Bactrim sort of killing me may have had an effect too.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Tincup questions for you.
I've had bart testing done with Labcorp late 07. They did the b. henselae igm, b henselae igg, b. quintana igg and igm. All say negative without my specific titer listed. What's your experience say about this?
I'm positive I've got bart. I have your "Batonella Alert" sitting on my desk that I pulled out of my file yesterday from early '08.
I don't know how to proceed with testing? Regardless I've decided that 2010 is going to be all about bart.
I just started rifampin yesterday. Could this stir up some antibodies like lyme does?
Help!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!! Oh, yeah you are almost as smart as Tutu. lol
Pam
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
quote:Originally posted by map1131: Tincup questions for you.
I've had bart testing done with Labcorp late 07. They did the b. henselae igm, b henselae igg, b. quintana igg and igm. All say negative without my specific titer listed. What's your experience say about this?
I'm positive I've got bart. I have your "Batonella Alert" sitting on my desk that I pulled out of my file yesterday from early '08.
I don't know how to proceed with testing? Regardless I've decided that 2010 is going to be all about bart.
I just started rifampin yesterday. Could this stir up some antibodies like lyme does?
Help!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!! Oh, yeah you are almost as smart as Tutu. lol
Pam
I wouldn't worry about testing. Proof will come if/when treatment works.
Posted by David Miller (Member # 21583) on :
map, both fry and clongen have bart tests that run PCR on something that's genus specific. It won't tell you what species you have, but will tell you that you have DNA from one or more of the 20 or so species.
Last I heard there were 19 known bart species, 9 of which are known to infect humans, and at least that many carried by ticks.
Testing for the two most common strains helps if you have one and get a positive, but leaves you where you were if it's one of the other 17.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by map1131: Help!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!! Oh, yeah you are almost as smart as Tutu. lol
All she has to do is stay at a Holiday Inn Express! Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
My LLMd said only Igenex for TBD's. He proved it by testing my co's at Labcorp and Igenex.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)