RE: Igenex Tests / Challenge Test -

[Guest guest]

I totally understand your predicament. We first did a PCR (urine) test for my

daughter which did in fact come back negative, it cost about $235.00. Then we

did the blood test 14 days after her being on a relatively low dose of

amoxicillin (she just turned 7 years old), and that came back positive for

almost every band. My husband just started a 14 day course of Cipro for an

ongoing ear infection, so he will be doing his test at the end of his 14 day

prescription via labcorp (we can't afford Igenex right now) to see what

happens.I took mine before starting antibiotics and it came back stating

negative, but I did have a few positive bands and a few indifferent. My doctor

also gave me a short one page explanation entitled " understanding Lyme Western

Blot " written by Dr. Ray (who has treated over 10,000 with Lyme

disease). It states that " even one band is enough to confirm exposure to

Borrelia burgdorgeri spirochete and can confirm a clinical diagnosis. "

I also had 2 tests myself for Lyme via Labcorp and not sure who did the other,

and they both came back negative (I still have never seen them, I never even

knew they were done as the doctors never even discussed it with me when I was

being worked up for MS) another thing on my to do list, I'd like to see what

that test looked like. I think my LLMD requested a copy from my previous

neurologist. Anyway, since my 7 year old has been having various problems

(mostly sensory) since birth, and I had a tumultuous high-risk pregnancy,

including a pup rash, I am positive that her Lyme is congenital. So I basically

take her positive tests as further verification that my diagnosis is correctly

positive as well.

Also, even though we really couldn't afford it, we decided to do a full panel

for all of the coinfections for my daughters Igenex tests (it cost about

$1100.00 - which we had to charge on a credit card). We did the bare minimum

for my Igenex, and have been adding various coinfections as we can afford them.

In hindsight, I have come to realize that it would have been less expensive to

just do the full panel in the first place (they have discounts and it ends up

being cheaper when you do it all at once).

I found an explanation in layman's terms about challenge testing here:

http://answers./question/index?qid=20100914154623AA4xFqXRelevant

excerpt: " the exact purpose of the challenge test: because the tests are

looking for an immune response to Lyme, not the Lyme itself, it can come up as a

false negative. Lyme can easily dodge your immune system (it can change into 3

forms) while it's living, but after you do the 3-week course of antibiotics,

your immune system should detect the dead spirocetes, and then the test will

pick that up. " This is not really the most reputable source, but I liked it for

its simplicity. If you call Igenex, I am sure they will mail you more info. on

challenge testing.

By the way, we also requested our insurance company accept Igenex as an

" in-network provider " since they are the only local lab that specializes in tick

born diseases that include Lyme as well as co-infections. This request was

granted (fairly easily to my amazement), but we have yet to receive our

reimbursement for my daughters Igenex lab work (though I lagged on submitting

the request), so I am waiting in anxious anticipation for reimbursement so that

I can have my 3 year old tested with those same funds. I tried to get them to

cover an out of network LLMD as " in-network " and that request was denied because

" there are too many infectious disease doctors in my network that are qualified

to diagnose and treat Lyme. " I requested a follow up to that denial, and that

they give me names of specific doctors within a 30 mile radius that have in fact

diagnosed and treated a reasonable amount of patients that qualifies them as

" specialists " for not only Lyme and co-infections, but " congenital Lyme and

chronic Lyme. " I am still waiting for them to respond and give me those names!

In fact I need to follow up this week, and I will keep you posted! Hope that

was helpful.

Richmond, CA

From: tweetyrja@...

Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:08:23 -0500

Subject: [ ] Igenex Tests

Has anyone had more than 1 Igenex test for Lyme? Were most of your kids

diagnosed with other blood tests or in combination with Igenex?

I'm asking because we know of someone who had 4 Igenix

tests....................with the last one being positive for Lyme. The first 3

were negative. My son is about to have his first, and if it's negative, I don't

think we can afford more of them.

I appreciate any info.!

[Guest guest]

My kids were tested for multiple coinfections for many hundreds of dollars. My

husband and I were not, just for Lyme. When that was positive, our LLMD in

Redwood City CA just diagnosed both of us with bartonella and babesia based on

our wide range of symptoms.

________________________________

From: Guillen <lovingmama@...>

Lyme Treatment

Sent: Mon, December 27, 2010 9:55:35 PM

Subject: RE: [ ] Igenex Tests / Challenge Test -

I totally understand your predicament. We first did a PCR (urine) test for my

daughter which did in fact come back negative, it cost about $235.00. Then we

did the blood test 14 days after her being on a relatively low dose of

amoxicillin (she just turned 7 years old), and that came back positive for

almost every band. My husband just started a 14 day course of Cipro for an

ongoing ear infection, so he will be doing his test at the end of his 14 day

prescription via labcorp (we can't afford Igenex right now) to see what

happens.I took mine before starting antibiotics and it came back stating

negative, but I did have a few positive bands and a few indifferent. My doctor

also gave me a short one page explanation entitled " understanding Lyme Western

Blot " written by Dr. Ray (who has treated over 10,000 with Lyme

disease). It states that " even one band is enough to confirm exposure to

Borrelia burgdorgeri spirochete and can confirm a clinical diagnosis. "

I also had 2 tests myself for Lyme via Labcorp and not sure who did the other,

and they both came back negative (I still have never seen them, I never even

knew they were done as the doctors never even discussed it with me when I was

being worked up for MS) another thing on my to do list, I'd like to see what

that test looked like. I think my LLMD requested a copy from my previous

neurologist. Anyway, since my 7 year old has been having various problems

(mostly sensory) since birth, and I had a tumultuous high-risk pregnancy,

including a pup rash, I am positive that her Lyme is congenital. So I basically

take her positive tests as further verification that my diagnosis is correctly

positive as well.

Also, even though we really couldn't afford it, we decided to do a full panel

for all of the coinfections for my daughters Igenex tests (it cost about

$1100.00 - which we had to charge on a credit card). We did the bare minimum

for my Igenex, and have been adding various coinfections as we can afford them.

In hindsight, I have come to realize that it would have been less expensive to

just do the full panel in the first place (they have discounts and it ends up

being cheaper when you do it all at once).

I found an explanation in layman's terms about challenge testing here:

http://answers./question/index?qid=20100914154623AA4xFqXRelevant

excerpt: " the exact purpose of the challenge test: because the tests are

looking for an immune response to Lyme, not the Lyme itself, it can come up as a

false negative. Lyme can easily dodge your immune system (it can change into 3

forms) while it's living, but after you do the 3-week course of antibiotics,

your immune system should detect the dead spirocetes, and then the test will

pick that up. " This is not really the most reputable source, but I liked it for

its simplicity. If you call Igenex, I am sure they will mail you more info. on

challenge testing.

By the way, we also requested our insurance company accept Igenex as an

" in-network provider " since they are the only local lab that specializes in tick

born diseases that include Lyme as well as co-infections. This request was

granted (fairly easily to my amazement), but we have yet to receive our

reimbursement for my daughters Igenex lab work (though I lagged on submitting

the request), so I am waiting in anxious anticipation for reimbursement so that

I can have my 3 year old tested with those same funds. I tried to get them to

cover an out of network LLMD as " in-network " and that request was denied because

" there are too many infectious disease doctors in my network that are qualified

to diagnose and treat Lyme. " I requested a follow up to that denial, and that

they give me names of specific doctors within a 30 mile radius that have in fact

diagnosed and treated a reasonable amount of patients that qualifies them as

" specialists " for not only Lyme and co-infections, but " congenital Lyme and

chronic Lyme. " I am still waiting for them to respond and give me those names!

In fact I need to follow up this week, and I will keep you posted! Hope that

was helpful.

Richmond, CA

From: tweetyrja@...

Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:08:23 -0500

Subject: [ ] Igenex Tests

Has anyone had more than 1 Igenex test for Lyme? Were most of your kids

diagnosed with other blood tests or in combination with Igenex?

I'm asking because we know of someone who had 4 Igenix

tests....................with the last one being positive for Lyme. The first 3

were negative. My son is about to have his first, and if it's negative, I don't

think we can afford more of them.

I appreciate any info.!