You ask me "Is this "B. Burgdorferi AB = Positive" an ELISA??? If so, then you have lyme right there.
The B.Burgdorferi AB was one of the bands listed on my WB they ran.
How do I know if it was an ELISA? How do I ask my GP to run an ELISA?
Should I ask her to run all my positive's differently?
Also, IGENEX. Is that a whole different type of Lyme test run? Or sent to a different lab?
I'm sure my GP will do whatever I ask her to. She just recently ran a Babs and EIA (IGG) and (IGM) because I ask her to. Now I worry that I should have ask for "something" different.
I thought I was pretty educated by now. But trying to "guide" my GP, I need to know EXACTLY what to ask her to do.
I am still trying to get a hold of Dr. C.
Thanks for your time. You are a wonderful help to me.
Connie in STL
-------------------- Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired!! Posts: 153 | From St. Louis, Missouri | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
HMMM.. I'm not sure what Bb AB means. Unless it just means Bb antibodies. I've never seen that on a test from Igenex.
Part of the problem here is that you are dealing with inferior labs for testing. They rarely find much, but you get lucky sometimes.
So start over and ask this dr to sign off on a test from Igenex.
You need Test #188 and 189 .. www.igenex.com You can order the kit for free.. then take it to your dr. When you send in the bloodwork, you then must have the dr's signature and $$$. It will run about $200.
Even better if you can just get to Dr C and have him do the test.
I'm sending you a PM. ( sorry i didn't see your post earlier! )
PS.. you don't need an ELISA. They often come back falsely negative anyway.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Below are the steps for getting tested through Igenex, if you do it without the help of an "LLMD." In my experience, LLMD's normally have the Igenex kit already at their office, so these steps don't really apply if you are going to an LLMD first.
Anyways...
1. Call Igenex lab directly, to request a test kit. You can find their website by "googling" them...phone # is on the website.
2. On the phone, tell them what tests you would like done, so they know what to send in your kit. I recommend you start with what Lymetoo suggested, 188 and 189. So tell them that. That is the Lyme Western Blot, IgG and IgM. If you wanted to be tested for babesia, bartonella, erlichia, or anything else, you would need to tell them that too. Keep in mind that would cost more money.
3. You will get a kit in the mail. You will then need to take the kit to the doctor, and ask them (politely) if they would write the order for you to have the blood drawn. Or maybe it's that the doctor signs something in the kit. I'm sure it's self explanatory, or the doctor should be able to figure that one out. If in doubt, call Igenex.
4. Then, once you have the order from the doctor for the blood draw, you take that, along with your kit, to a blood draw lab. (or some doctors may do blood draws in their office). But you will want to do the draw on a Monday or Tuesday.
5. Once you do the blood draw, you can either trust the lab to mail the kit (booo) or make sure the kit is mailed yourself (yayyy). So in the kit, you'll put your money (check), the tube(s) of blood, and the form that was in the kit (filled out). The kit should have also came with a mailing envelope.
Back when I did it, you could call FedEx, 1800GOFEDEX...something like that (the shipping instructions will hopefully be in the kit). When you call FedEx, you select the option that is called "schedule a pick up." It may also be UPS...it has been awhile for me since using Igenex.
This means that FedEx (or UPS) will come to your house, that day, and take the package with the blood, $, and form that came in the kit.
I think it is already labelled for two day shipping, the mailing envelope the kit came with. It has to go two-day.
So all of that is correct to the best of my knowledge, but I can't guarantee it's correct.
I remember you saying you had blood "being chilled" at the lab. I would not send that to Igenex. I'd start over and send them something fresh.
Also, I would do an antibiotic challenge before getting this blood drawn (can't recall if you did that or not). The results should be more accurate that way.
The ELISA is something separate. Any doctor or lab could perform that for you. Insurance should cover that.
Hope that helps...good luck!
IF ANY OF THIS IS WRONG, WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE CHIME IN AND CORRECT IT?
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Note, the reason that you need to call to have FedEx or UPS (whatever the mailing envelope you get is labelled with)....is that you can't just stick blood in a mailbox, or mail it through the post office or a UPS store. It's against the law.
So either the lab needs to mail your lovely little kit that day (booo) or you need to have FedEx or UPS come to your house to pick up the kit THAT DAY (yayyy). If you call early enough in the day, there is not reason they shouldn't be able to pick it up that day, but if in doubt, perhaps you can call the day before to schedule it.
Remember, ship on a Monday or Tues.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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