Specialty Laboratories C5 Peptide Antibodies DetectR?

Even though I was diagnosed through Bowen, my other doctor (who uses Specialty Labs for other things) says the director of the lab is 'interested in my case'. Yea, I know, sounds a little shaky doesn't it?

Anyway, I told the doctor I already tested positive at two labs, Bowen and the one Mattman culture.

According to the the doctor, the director of Speciality Labs thinks those cultures are "poopoo" (exact words), and that I should take the C6. (Kinds sounds like a used car salesman.)

I am not going to take it, because it's needless money spent for getting additional testing, but the thing that really struck me as odd, is why a director of a lab would be 'interested' in a doctors patients case?

Excuse me if I am wrong, but doctors should not disclose medical information without a patients release form anyway? Right? The doctor never submitted a Lyme test there, how does an employee of the lab know I have Lyme? I can see if I tested for Lyme there, but that's not the case.

Also, I am just curious what experience people had with this lab for Lyme testing in general.

This way I can arm myself with information the next time I go in.

A 1,000 "Speciality Labs" doesn't equal 1 Bowen. If Bowen says you have lyme, you have lyme. They even photograph it !

I believe C6 is supposed to be common to all strains of Lyme and that makes it a better test. However, I have read info that says the test is not that good.

If the lab Dr is interested in your blood why not offer to donate some if they make the results available to you at no charge?

I am already under treatment, we are taking the cultures over and over just to check my load progress, that's all.

I am not going to take this Peptide test anyway, I just wanted to see what experience people have with Speciality Labs, just so I could tell the doctor this the next time I go in, so she can be better informed.

I did a search on this site, and nothing much has been said about Speciality Labs.

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Originally posted by janet thomas:
C6 is supposedly a slightly better test than ELISA, off the top of my head. Vets use a quick in-house test called a Snap 3D which tests for Lyme, Ehrlichis canis and heartworm. The Lyme part of it is C6 testing.

I believe C6 is supposed to be common to all strains of Lyme and that makes it a better test. However, I have read info that says the test is not that good.

If the lab Dr is interested in your blood why not offer to donate some if they make the results available to you at no charge?

[This message has been edited by janet thomas (edited 04 June 2005).]

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I would have to pay for it of all things! Which makes me think it's a strange marketing thing. Because in my years of getting tests and going through the medical system, I NEVER had a lab director become interested in my case. That's just odd.

They are not really considered a good lab, as you know. I wouldnt waste my money. I agree with the others...if you can get it for free....and it WON'T affect your insurance or your treatment, then why not? If not, tell him you have already PAID enough to be a lab rat, time for someone to PAY YOU!