seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Do you see any disadvantage of asking a PCP to run a LabCorp Western Blot after being on Abx now for 3 months? My IGenix in May-08 was CDC negative on both IgM and IgG. It had the following:
IgM: 23-25 ++, 31 IND, 41 IND, 58 + IgG: 41+
My LabCorp I think back in Nov-07 showed only IgG 41+. No IgM bands showed up.
I don't feel like wasting more cash at IGenix when it doesn't impact treatment. If they elect to accept insurance at some point, I will. It seems disability companies and many docs give them no credibility anyway -yes..I know facts indicate otherwise as I've read 100 times on here.
I mainly want a free test ran to see if something shows up on an independent (non-IGenix) lab. It would make me feel better about treatment.
Any thoughts?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
I wouldn't waste the money--the sensitivity of that test is what, like 40%?
posted
I had a lab-corp western blot then a Igenex WB within 48 hours of each other.
Lab-corp showed all IgG bands present, no IgM bands.
Igenex showed a ton of positives on both IgM and IgG.
Posts: 123 | From Georgia | Registered: Jul 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I know LabCorp doesn't test all bands. I just don't understand how these other labs are still being reimbursed if their testing is so grossly inaccurate. If the government has audited IGenix, then don't they hold Quest, LabCorp, etc. to common standards?
How can this lab be so much smarter than others? I totally get the not including the vaccine bands as a true issue. It just seems incomprehensable that you could have 5 IgM bands at IGenix and 0 at LabCorp. is there any other diagnostic test in the world where this ridiculous inconsistency would occur?
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Don't waste your money! These test are so inaccurate, they really don't mean much.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
I had a Labcorp western blot in May and it showed IGM positive, bands #23 & #41 and began the 3 weeks of Doxy.
In June my LLMD ordered an IGM and IGG by Igenenix and it came back NEGATIVE, showing IGG negative and IGM #31 IND, #39,IND and #41+.
I recently took another IGenex test in October and it came back NEGATIVE again.
But I was on abx when I took the Igenex tests.
Go figure.
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
They become more important during a disability claim! I just have to believe if this Abx challenge philosophy has any merit, that more LabCorp bands should show up. IGenix certainly shouldn't be the only lab experiencing this phenomenom.
The LabCorp test is 100% payable by my insurance. It's more curiosity than anything else.
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Wow, that's the opposite of what you would expect! It does make you wonder.
quote:Originally posted by gemofnj: I had a Labcorp western blot in May and it showed IGM positive, bands #23 & #41 and began the 3 weeks of Doxy.
In June my LLMD ordered an IGM and IGG by Igenenix and it came back NEGATIVE, showing IGG negative and IGM #31 IND, #39,IND and #41+.
I recently took another IGenex test in October and it came back NEGATIVE again.
But I was on abx when I took the Igenex tests.
Go figure.
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
deleting the quote bold codes which are so painful to my eyes.... [\QB]
quote:Originally posted by seekhelp:
They become more important during a disability claim!
seekhelp,
sorry, i have to disagree with respect to you ok based upon the 5 years of hell i went thru to be approved for my 2nd ssdi claim.
in my case, although i was IGENEX POSITIVE MEETING CDC GUIDELINES AND DIAGNOSED BY MY PCP OF 28 YEARS, they did NOT consider anything about my lyme in my ssdi.
they avoided LYME, FIBRO, CFS ... worked on mental end of it.
bottom line, it still goes back to why you PHYSCIALLY can not work so many hours daily doing:
sitting, walking, standing, bending, crawling, lifting, climbing, and using your hands
your pcp is the best to judge those activities based upon many dr. visits with you ....
fyi too. my pcp dx me w/lyme; our local clinic had me take another blood test, WB, at their expense and send to MAYO CLINIC, MINN.
came back NEGATIVE on igm and igg; they tested 2 on one; 5 bands on other!! go figure!
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posted
I totally understand where Seekhelp is coming from....
I agree with your way of thinking and wondering.
What is strange to me is the thing that gemofnj experienced...a similar thing happened to me as well.
Lapcorp tested me cdc positive with 23, 41 bands.
I tested at Igenex after lots of abx and while on abx, I don't know if that matters or not, but my 23 band was gone. I did end up pulling 18, 31, 41, 58 I believe...and some on IgG side as well. Lapcorp I didn't.
I don't really worship Igenex and at times I don't know who to trust, which test to think is actually accurate, etc. All I know is that I'm sick. That's just my opinion.
-------------------- ~*~Lyme POW~*~
I will escape. Posts: 100 | From n/a | Registered: Oct 2008
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I had a positive significant band on Labcorp and didn't bother with the Igenex. My LLMD diagnosis clinically.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
My LLMD told me that his predecessor, Dr. Masters, tested (WB) someone every day for 30 days and each day the bands were different.
He said that borrelia is able to change it's expression to the immune system very easily, therefore our immune response changes along with it producing different antibodies.
I think until they are able to create a way to accurately and inexpensively test for the actual bacteria, we are all stuck with the most controversial disease known to mankind!
All I want for Christmas is for the lyme bill to be passed!
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