After having been treated successfully for Lyme in 2011-2012 and completely recovering, I am in a full relapse that began earlier this year. I am wondering if perhaps a previously undiagnosed co-infection has been triggered in this relapse.
Previously had the diagnostic bartonella striae and severe neurological symptoms, but am now thinking Babesia, as was a previous doctor I was treated by presumed babesia based on horrific herx whenever Artermesia herb was introduced.
I never fully went through with Babs treatment as re-entered grad school and was feeling good and fully functioning at that time, while the artemesia would quite literally turn me into satan overnight.
Anyways, I am looking for advice on which labs are good for co-infection testing for Babesia, Bartonella, and other bugs that are of current interest (I am obviously out of the loop on current events in the Lyme world).
While I am currently seeking help looking for a new LLMD, I was planning on ordering a test kit myself and going to a lab draw place like "Any Labs Now" that has a doctor that I heard will basically sign any lab order for you and have it drawn and sent off.
Looking to save some time while waiting for LLMD appt. so if any co's come up positive, I can start targeted treatment more quickly.
I know of Igenex, Fry Labs, Galaxy Labs (new one I heard good for Bartonella), and Clongen. I am looking strictly to test co-infections, as my Lyme test a few years back was a strong CDC positive at Igenex, so no need to retest that again.
Any feedback on use of these or other labs for co-infection testing would be appreciated. If feedback is somehow prohibited regarding certain labs on this board, please kindly PM me the information.
Thanks! KJ
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-------------------- SICK AUG 2010 / DIAGNOSED AUG 2011 LYME IGENEX WB CDC POSITIVE IGM: 31++ 34IND 39+ 41+ 83-93+ CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS: Bartonella and Babesia REMISSION MAY 2012-DEC 2014 SEVERE RELAPSE JAN 2015 STILL WORKING SLOWLY TOWARD REMISSION AGAIN IN 2019 Posts: 39 | From N. Illinois | Registered: Jun 2011
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Many of the labs listed offer quality diagnostics.
IgeneX offers testing for many common co-infections that is quality, yet "conventional" in the sense they're not using as new or experimental methodology as some other labs.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. IgeneX is known primarily for their innovative Lyme testing and have branched out to offer "relapsing fever Borrelia species" diagnostics,
including B. miyamotoi - which should be considered worth accessing as a co-infection and not identical to Lyme itself.
The fact they accept many forms of insurance now (or can be reimbursed if a claim is submitted) may make them more accessible for many patients, financially. T
Fry Labs is notable for their stained blood smears and visual identification, which can help to show the presence of pathogens that may be missed by some other forms of testing. Many of the times these pathogens' genus and species can be confirmed by PCR as well.
Fry Labs is renowned for being the first lab offering a diagnostic Protomyxzoa rheumatica and may very well may still be the best diagnostic present for this (relatively) newly discovered pathogen. They are also notable for their Babesia diagnostics.
Fry's smears also show biofilm communities and many non-specific organisms that do not necessarily confirm to known antigens.
For instance, a Fry Labs result may show some organisms that seem to be closely related to Babesia or Bartonella species, but fail to be identified as say, Babesia microti or Bartonella henselae.
This posting reminds me to check if Fry has added some of the additional species to their PCR confirmation assays. A worthwhile lab, certainly.
Galaxy Labs I only know from reputation and I'm interested in sending my own samples to them prior to any patients'.
They seem to have some of the most comprehensive Bartonella diagnostics which is good to see, especially as conventional testing only tests for 2 strains and we know there are far more, not to mention Bartonella-like organisms.
If their claims are true, Galaxy could very well be the best option for Bartonella diagnostics, using methodology not available elsewhere at the moment..
Their other tests seem to be quality as well, but I'd have to get in contact with them to compare their Babesia test (and others) to those done by IgeneX etc... and what strains they are able to identify.
Finally, let me come to Advanced Laboratory Services. Advanced is notable for one particularly amazing diagnostic - Lyme disease culture.
Thought impossible for many years, Advanced has been able to successfully culture Lyme itself out of patient blood samples, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt of pathogen presence.
I know you are only interested in co-infection testing at the moment, but I urge you to keep Borrelia testing in mind, especially using Advanced.
As always with Borrelia species, false negatives are possible, but unlike other antibody related diagnostics, Advanced's culture can be used as an evaluation; a positive test (alongside symptoms) means that Lyme itself still needs to be treated.
I shall have to check to see if their cultures are capable of identifying other Borrelia species, such as B. miyamotoi or B. lonestari .
Hope this can be of some assistance.
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[ 06-07-2015, 06:43 PM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posts: 690 | From East coast, USA | Registered: Jun 2006
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If any of you post anymore here, please break up your posts - many people here need that done in order to be able to read the board - thanks -
Great info, Blackstone - thanks - only correction I would make is when you say above that B miyamotoi could be considered a co-infection?
Actually it's another Lyme genospecies. I know that because I have heard plenty of discussion on it at annual CA Lyme Disease Advisory Board meetings. There was only tick lab testing for it, so it's great to have it finally be tested for at IGeneX.
The lack of ability to catch it was a reason why some Lyme tests did not come back positive even people were sick. Such is the case in California, as we have the genospecies here.
Adding to the co-infection discussion, most varieties of the co-infections are not yet able to be caught in testing. A positive test is very helpful, but a negative one should not stop anyone from treating them if symptomatic.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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