I am new to Lyme, but what strikes me to be very strange is that this is that this is the only lab in the US that is considered reliable? Don't any of you find that strange?
They also have a very close affiliation with the Lyme Disease Association. In fact, I believe someone from Igenex sits on their board of directors.
I am just pointing this out, because without competition it makes it very easy for them to not take insurance, they have the full endorsement of the Lyme Disease Association. I just question, how much does money play into all of this?
Just my opinion and thoughts. It just seems very strange. Maybe some of you can shed some light on this since I am new. Thanks very much.
CA - Nick Harris, PhD Immunology President IGeneX Reference Labs; Treasurer, ILADS, International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society; Member NCCLS Committee on Lyme; Diplomate, American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology
Posts: 21 | From Tampa, Fl | Registered: Feb 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Nimzovich76: Igenex buys the same kits (ELISA, IFA, WB etc.. ) than any other lab buys, they use 2 strains for their WB and report the bands. One of the strains is hardly seen in the U.S.
Igenex uses both the B31 strain (used by others in U.S.) along with the 297 strain, which was isolated over twenty years ago in the U.S. from the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient in Connecticut. My guess is that a few more people in the U.S. have gotten neuro lyme from the 297 strain since then.
Personally I think I'd go with the test that uses both strains to cover more bases, especially if there are neurological manifestations.
Posts: 621 | From US | Registered: Jun 2006
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
quote:Originally posted by Nimzovich76: Igenex buys the same kits (ELISA, IFA, WB etc.. ) than any other lab buys, they use 2 strains for their WB and report the bands. One of the strains is hardly seen in the U.S.
For reasons which remain a mystery, Nimzovich spends an inordinate amount of time looking for posts into which he can inject nonsense to try and discredit IGeneX.
However, the bottom line is this:
IGeneX scored better than 95% in the stringent NY proficiency tests from 2001-2005. Out of 58 labs, only IGeneX had a perfect score on Western blot.
It appears Nimzovich actually prefers the labs who rank somewhere among the 58 that obviously can't perform or interpret a western blot.
In a disease as hard to diagnose as lyme, I can't imagine any reason why anyone would pick a lab that isn't the very best.
However, I'm sure Nimzovich has his reasons.
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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It's funny, I've never even had an Igenex test myself, but it just bugs me when people criticize them without looking at the facts.
Posts: 621 | From US | Registered: Jun 2006
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
quote:Originally posted by Nimzovich76: "IGeneX scored better than 95% in the stringent NY proficiency tests from 2001-2005. Out of 58 labs, only IGeneX had a perfect score on Western blot."
this according to who? Nick Harris or the Igenex Website?
According to New York State proficiency tests.
What part of that aren't you getting??
Why don't you write the state of New York in case you think IGeneX made it up?
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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