beside Igenex which is another lab that can be trusted with testing for Lyme? I was test by Medical Diagnostic Labs. and Lyme comes equivocal. But Igenex comes positive on the blood test and the urine test.

thanks all for their help

http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.htm#diag
Lyme is diagnosed clinically, as no currently available test, no matter the source or type, is definitive in ruling in or ruling out infection with these pathogens, or whether these infections are responsible for the patient's symptoms. The entire clinical picture must be taken into account, including a search for concurrent conditions and alternate diagnoses, and other reasons for some of the presenting complaints. Often, much of the diagnostic process in late, disseminated Lyme involves ruling out other illnesses and defining the extent of damage that might require separate evaluation and treatment.

I've had the same response from many of the drs that I've seen regarding Igenex, unfortunately. I had equivocal tests from MDL and then sent to Igenex and finally got a + test, but none of the docs that I took the results to would even look at the Igenex results-pretty sad, isn't it???

This is a great topic and I'd love to hear if there is a lab other than Quest or Labcorp that all doctors will accept results from because I'd send my bloodwork there in a heartbeat!

afternoon blood draws produce MORE POSITIVE lyme dx and I think it was IGENEX was mentioned....

I think the people who believe Igenex has too many false positives are ill informed. Igenex will have more positives than other labs, including MDL. That is because they use primers from two strains of borrelia, rather than just one, as all other labs use.

I know for a fact, in my own household, I tested positive, and my son tested negative. My son was treated anyway, and showed two clear bull's eye rashes after three weeks of antibiotic treatment. Just on time for a herx response. Just in our on house, we validate the rate of 64% positive in people very likely to be infected.

Doctors will always have preferences in labs. That is fine. But Igenex has been challenged numerous times on their tests, and have always come out with flying colors.

Bowen just received their patent January 2005 for their lyme test. This is a not for profit lab. They do not make money off of this. You deduct your $250 off of your taxes for a donation.

So Bowen is a more reputable lab? Will most general md's & ID docs value their results? How do you go about sending a sample to them? I do hope that they become FDA approved soon so that we don't have to run around searching for the right answers and then trying to convince some of these stubborn docs to review them!

Any idea on the cost of testing and do they do PCR testing, Western Blot and urine testing?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!