He won't call Bowen and register with them until after he has seen me.

He also doesn't draw blood at his office, but will send me to the hospital to have this done.

I called Bowen and they told me that they only need to speak to the doctor's office for a few minutes after which they'll fax a 12-page set of forms to the doctor's office.

1 page for the doctor to fill out.

11 pages with directions and patient to fill out.

Has anyone on the list done Bowen recently and can tell me what information is contained in the 12-page protocol and how should I send the blood to Bowen.

Since the doctor hasn't used Bowen before, at least I want to be as knowledgable about the "procedure" as possible.

Anything that you can tell me about the "procedure" will be helpful.

- Like how do I send the blood to Bowen?

- Can I do it myself, cause frankly I don't trust the hospital to even put the blood into the right tubes.
- How much blood they need? 5ml?
- Does Bowen automatically test for Lyme AND Babs and Erlichia?
- What info need to be completed on the forms (both doctors and patients pages)?

You're welcome to send to my email if you prefer.

Sandi, you around?

Thanks in advance,

Did you ever get your info for Bowen? Their instructions are very detailed for you. Things may have changed since we tested!!!

Both my son & I have had the Bowen Test last year------Serial Dilution $250. It tests for Lyme/borrelia, Babesia and Erlichiosis.

Others may have more UPDATED information:

No fasting required

Two 5 ml EDTA (lavender top for whole blood

Ship"overnight priority" via UPS/Fed-Ex using a cold pac

Do Not ship on Friday

Bowen wants to receive it in a.m.

Send Doc's Signed Request, 3-page history
(Don't worry re: being 12 pages long)
Donation/payment

Packing instructions:

Unless things have changed, this is what I had to do:

I went to Wal-Mart & got a plastic, 2-piece, tube toothbrush carrier; Placed the 2 plastic blood tubes in the carrier & taped the carrier in the middle. Use bubble-wrap for cushioning or whatever you like. Drop in 1 or more frozen cold pacs. Place everything in a 1-gallon freezer bag.

Might want to place in a bubble wrap mailer/envelop with labels inside & out? I think I even had to place requisition forms in plastic baggie or your cold pac will ruin it.

Take it to a Mailing Center. You have to tell them it's blood which requires them to place your package in a SPECIAL, probably leakproof mailer envelope which is labeled blood products or something like that?

My overnight postage from TX was $43.

(One mailing center wanted to use a styrofoam box for like $50 PLUS postage fees! Yikes. You don't need a box. Using a toothbrusher tube allows you to send in envelope.

Hope this helps.

Take Care,
Jan

Thanks for all the info. Of course, now I have even more questions...

quote:

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Originally posted by Recipegirl05:
Did you ever get your info for Bowen? Their instructions are very detailed for you. Things may have changed since we tested!!!

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No, that's part of my problem. Bowen only sends this info to the doctor. And my doctor won't call Bowen until AFTER my visit so he and I won't get the forms/instructions until AFTER the visit!

quote:

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Originally posted by Recipegirl05:
Two 5 ml EDTA (lavender top for whole blood.

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I assume the doctors office supplies these tubes?

quote:

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Originally posted by Recipegirl05:
Ship"overnight priority" via UPS/Fed-Ex using a cold pac.

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So I'm responsible for packaging and shipping the blood out?

Is it important to ship it overnight?

I shouldn't let the doctor's office do this? Or maybe they can't cause the shipping is not covered by insurance.

quote:

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Originally posted by Recipegirl05:
Send Doc's Signed Request, 3-page history.

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What information is put on these pages?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Recipegirl05:
I went to Wal-Mart & got a plastic, 2-piece, tube toothbrush carrier; Placed the 2 plastic blood tubes in the carrier & taped the carrier in the middle. Use bubble-wrap for cushioning or whatever you like. Drop in 1 or more frozen cold pacs. Place everything in a 1-gallon freezer bag.

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Is it normal that the doctor's office doesn't help you with the packaging and shipping?

Thanks again,

Michael

I'm sorry it's taking so long to get your Bowen test.

The lab or doctor's office which draw the blood will already have these small lavender top test tubes on hand. Not to worry.

Unless things have changed from last summer, yes--------you will be responsible for paying for the pricey "overnight shipping charges".

I went to the lab with my little cooler ("Little Playmate" made by Igloo just like on TV) with some frozen cold pacs thrown in. Got the blood drawn & immediately placed the 2 tubes in the toothbrush holder and carefully placed in cooler.

Then ran by the house & pulled out another hard-frozen cool pac straight from freezer. Packed it according to instructions. Label everything!!

Then off to the Mailing Center where I used FED EX. They'll give you a tracking number. You can go to their website & see what time your pkg. arrives at Bowen.

See, I was an out-of-town patient & our appointments were always on Friday. You can't ship blood on Fridays to Bowen.

I came home and did all the leg work. The LLMD explained that I'd have to fix a little container & take care of the shipping.

Sorry, I don't know how it is for other offices.

Yes. It is mandatory to ship "over- night priority".

Best to get your shipping materials, labels made, ready & waiting long before you have the blood drawn.

I had my blood drawn in the early afternoon, but had to make it to the Mailing Center with my home-made package ready to go, in order to make their deadline for "overnight priority" mail.

Yes, you'll have to call ahead to the Mailing Center & find out what time you have to have your pkg. there, in order to ship out as "overnight priority" mail.

As for requisition form....,
The doctor has to sign for the test, also giving basic office address info, etc.

AS for history...,
Asks for meds, other medical conditions, symptoms because this is a research lab.

I'd e-mail you the old 2004 instructions, but I don't know how to scan. When my husband comes home, I'll ask him to show me how to scan this. Can't make any promises because he has LD, too & gets tired taking ABX & trying to work. (But, I'll try.)

If I'm able to scan these, please promise that as soon as you get the "2005 current instruction packet" from your doctor, THROW MY OLD INSTRUCTIONS in the trash.

It would only cause confusion & really mess up your tests if you don't follow their precise updated instructions.

Just a FYI:
Patients are not allowed to contact Bowen for results. The physician will choose to have your results either e-mailed to his office from Bowen or mailed to his office.

Eventually, you'll get a photo of your blood. It's pretty cool.

It'll be later tonight before I can try scanning.

Take Care,
Jan

I appreciate all your help.

I don't expect to make it for the overnighter the same day the blood is drawn, since the doctor won't get all the info until AFTER my visit. And who knows how long this will take. And then I have to go to the hospital to have the blood drawn. More delays.

What's wrong with keeping the blood in the fridge overnight for the next day?

The 11 pages may be re symptoms, legal gobbledygook about liability, I really don't know. But I believe they really know what they're doing.

I'm not sure what happens if the blood is delayed, even if refrigerated, but I wouldn't delay it. Perhaps some of the spirochetes die or hide or something. If they say overnight they mean it. You might be wasting your money if you don't follow instructions exactly.

Best of luck!

quote:

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Originally posted by lmasch:
When we had the test done we got the Bowen kit from our LLMD, took it to the hospital lab. They drew the blood in the supplied tubes and we got all that back and sent the whole thing to Bowen in the box they supplied. Bowen made it very simple.

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Bowen supplied the tubes and shipping box???

I thought they only send paper work. At least, I'm pretty sure that's what they do now, based on the converstations I've had with the staff at Bowen?

When did you have this test done?

quote:

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Originally posted by lmasch:
I'm not sure what happens if the blood is delayed, even if refrigerated, but I wouldn't delay it. Perhaps some of the spirochetes die or hide or something. If they say overnight they mean it. You might be wasting your money if you don't follow instructions exactly.

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Exactly! That's why I'm trying to cover my butt here...

Hey, if you can get your hands on a Bowen Kit------get it!

Glad to see there's an easier way.