posted
MB, I am not an expert, so you may want to ask others as well.
From my limited experience, the Bartonella that is transmitted by ticks is different from the more common "Cat Scratch Disease" agent called Bartonella henselae.
Dr.B refers to infections with BLO = "Bartonella like organisms".
In my experience, this strain/type/kind of Bartonella does not show up on tests looking for B. henselae and the Lyme co-infection (from ticks) with BLO is, in the end, as frustrating as that may be, a clinical diagnosis.
So in other words, I would not hope for too much from the tests. I have spend a good bit of money, even on one Igenex test for Bart and it was negative while clinically, I have glaring Bart symptoms (confirmed by 3 physicians independently).
This is well in line with expectations if one considers the research and publications available on the topic. Dr. B said that 50% of the cases are missed in the tests for Bart.
Igenex is an excellent lab, the test was negative, and I still have Bart. It is just that the test is not specific for the chemicals and antibodies of the BLO that I carry.
The test is the wrong test. The right test has not been researched or developed yet.
If you are short of money, I am not sure what to tell you. The Igenex tests do not cost that much, if you really wish to do just the one. I would call ahead and ask about the price so you know what to expect if you decide to draw the blood and send it. Most everybody charges a small blood draw fee on top of that for their time and materials. They were pretty good with me to let me know what my tests would cost before I did them. I got this information from my doctor.
The Igenex number is (800)832-3200 but you may have to go through a doc to get the pricing for your area anyway, I am not sure.
A good LLMD is probably the best way to go.
Also, the symptoms are important to record and recognize. That may give you more confidence in identifying what you are dealing with.
Dr.B's Guide was instrumental to me. Also, I gained a lot of insight from Dr. B's "Putting Lyme Behind You" presentation in March 2011 that CALDA has made available for a very reasonable fee.
Since you are a LymeNet contributor you probably already know all this. Maybe someone else has uncovered a good test somewhere, but my Bart was missed, even by Igenex. I did only one Igenex test for Bart. Three different ones are available.
Best of luck to you!
Harmony
-------------------- Persistence, persistence, persistence!!! "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence... Persistence and determination are omnipotent." attributed to Calvin Coolidge Posts: 599 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2011
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posted
If you haven't tested it before, I suggest just using a regular lab that your insurance covers first.
For myself, Doxy (and a week of Bactrim) brought out positives for henselae and quintana, using a normal lab (either sunrise or labcorp... forget which one).
Might as well try that first.
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Galaxy Labs in SC are now once again testing humans for Bart. They. Stopped in May because they were setting up the human testing from the grant they got from either the CDC or the NIH. This is one of the top Vet labs thru University of SC . They are doing most states but still waiting on Ca and others for permits. Their test is thru and enhanced medium culture, more exact than just PCR...I am waiting for the CA one.
Posts: 871 | From orange county, ca. | Registered: Jan 2006
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If you are not on bart meds then I would suggest the Galaxy Labs test. Hubby never did this test because he was on meds plus the approx cost of around $500 was so high.
But if you want proof of the exact species then I would suggest that test.
If you just want confirmation that you have bartonella and don't really care if the exact species is identified then I would do a Clongen blood slide. Cost is $195 plus $50 shipping. The test results will say something like "motile cocobacilli observed" and will add some comments regarding the severity of the infection -- rare, scarce or numerous etc.
Hubby has done the Clongen bloodslides numerous times. With treatment for bart his infection went from numerous to a clean bloodslide over 2 1/2 years.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Clongen does a new enriched culture procedure available for an extra $125 for each test. Much better than straight PCR. This is similar to Galaxy Dx
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