posted
yes....this protocal does work....i never tested postive until 2 months on abx. MDL is a solid lab and consider #2 behind IGENIX....my doctor uses MDL and yes everything was covered.
-------------------- On my journey to wellness - One day at a time. Posts: 989 | From NJ | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
I would try to get more doxy too. The more the better.
Doing this trial run helped many more bands show up on my test, though it was still not CDC positive.
If that doesn't work, go with Igenex next time.
PS.. Personally, I would take abx 4 wks and then take 2 wks off before testing.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
It's kind of ironic we want more bands to show up so we all say 'goto Igenix.' Sometimes I feel like they sell confirmation of illness, a priceless piece of information. I pray they are as accurate as others state. Know what I mean?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Yes, I do know what you mean....
Posts: 49 | From philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2008
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I know what you mean. It just sounds strange to me that to get extra bands, just use Igenex.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Yeah, it really is a problem. It's accepted too easily on here I think. From what others stated, Igenix tests for TWO strains, not one. OK, there are supposedly 300+ strains of Bb. You're telling me 99% of the population here just 'happens' to have the second strain Quest, LabCorp, etc. don't use on their slides? Sometimes, you really have to step back and just think....
There's certainly potential for major abuse with ill people. It concerns me. I want to think everything is done in our best interests all the time, but at $200 a pop and test requests coming in endlessly as a captive market, the owners can't be hurting too much financially!!
We can smell the IDSA scandal issues from a mile away. How do you think non-Lymies smell the Igenix stuff? Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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-------------------- Suffering too many years to count. Can't remember anyway!!!! Posts: 46 | From It's News to Jersey | Registered: Mar 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Seek - so then what about all the people who test through IGeneX and get negatives? I hardly got ANY bands from IGeneX. Actually, I only got ONE. And then all the co-infections I've ever had through them have been negative too...
I think more people have Lyme than we care to realize and that's why so many people come back positive through IGeneX. I am just one of the very unlucky people who don't make antibodies to anything it seems....
That, or I have one of the strains that cannot be tested for at all...
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Thanks for the replies, I am going to try it.
Posts: 49 | From philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2008
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Seek, Igenex was investigated out of state and in-state by at least 8 independent entities. Their accuracy was superb, about 98% most years.
These independent investigations sent infected and uninfected blood samples -- as regular patients -- to Igenex to arrange a control and of course the experimental.
Borrelia Burdorgferi is one of 12 species that are known to cause Lyme disease or borreliosis and are transmitted by ticks. The major Borrelia species causing Lyme disease are Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii and Borrelia valaisiana.
Many of these are not found in the United Stages. Currently it is clear we do not understand all the individual strains, but we know that most of them cross react at that level with B31. Some do not however, and this is why there are multiple bands used and two strains at this time.
I'd say about 35% (observation from this board) of people are negative through Igenex, for a variety of reasons, including poor immune response, a different strain that doesn't cross react with Bb, or even a different species causing Lyme-Like illness, which can be nearly impossible to distinguish. It also explains why slight deviations are needed for different patients. The Cycline family seems quite effective for a broad range of borrelia, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Then you have the co-infections, which are poorly understood and just beginning to emerge as contender.
To handle weakened immunity and "hiding" bacteria, the antibiotic stress test is given to patients after a course of antibiotics. With a short course of antibiotics the bacteria are killed and they break apart, easily identified quickly by the immune system -- even when compromised, to produce antibiodies to the individual pieces of remaining antigens (pieces of the bacteria in this case), and thus the antibody levels rise, which then show up on the Western Blot.
Suffice to say, Igenex is credible, the state of California feels they are credible, New York agrees, PA agree,s MD agree, Florida Agree. Medicare and NY just independently investigated them in late 2007, both renewed the license with Igenex. Basically, as a result, they are CLIA certified through every state, in the United States, with that federal stamp of approval.
Hope that helps.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
Thanks for the info on Ingenex, I didn't know that NY renewed there license with them.
Posts: 49 | From philadelphia | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Why is it a "Problem" to get more bands from Igenex... a lab that tests for ALL the possible bands and more strains than other labs??
That's not a PROBLEM, it's a solution.
My test at Igenex was NOT positive, but that doesn't mean I don't have Lyme.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I never said it's a problem. I wasn't looking at the more bands issue as much as the more strains issue.
My point was testing for 2 instead of 1 of 300+ Bb strains doesn't seem likely to yield so many more positives as they do. I am not saying all test positive with Igenix. I didn't, but I had some positive bands.
I'm looking at it from a ccmmon sense / play the odds perspective. I am aware they were deemed credible as Metallic Blue said. THe issue is most conventional docs just don't buy into their testing. That said, a positive from them means little in regards to access to improved care for your disease. It's not fair, but reality.
If they'd separate themselves from LLMDs, I think their credibility may increase. Conflict of interest is a huge issue to me whether the affiliation is helping/hurting me when it comes to lab testing. I don't like it one bit.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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