Re: Igenex Extended Coinfection Test

[Guest guest]

I just took the Igenex test that basically tests for lyme, not so much the

coinfections. The big test is 690.00 dollars !!! I am just wondering if I

really should invest in taking this to find out co-infections...i hear alot of

people talking about specific bacteria and treating them. Any thoughts?

[Guest guest]

When I got my pos Bb result from Igenex, it was suggested I follow up with the

co-infection panel which was positive for Babesia. Bart didn't show but that

means little since there are so many species and thus false negative results.

You have to assume that if you have Borrelia, you likely have other bugs as

well. Whether you want to pay for the additional test is your choice. Some

would argue to save the money and treat the clinical symptoms.

deb

>

> I just took the Igenex test that basically tests for lyme, not so much the

coinfections. The big test is 690.00 dollars !!! I am just wondering if I

really should invest in taking this to find out co-infections...i hear alot of

people talking about specific bacteria and treating them. Any thoughts?

>

[Guest guest]

Something I have read a lot through the posts on the various groups is that one

may have a dominant infection which causes the bulk of the symptoms and that, in

reducing that particular infection through antimicrobials (whether abx or

herbals, etc.), another infection that may have been suppressed by the dominance

of the first bug now raises its ugly head - kind of like the alpha of an animal

pack or herd that is replaced by another alpha.

So you may find that you test positive for Bb and then once you treat, symptoms

of another infection pop up. This is what we often refer to as the layers of

the onion, and there are many layers to consider:

1) parasites (worms, etc.)

2) viruses

3) heavy metals (from foods such as tuna and other large fish or dental

amalgams)

4) food allergies (these may result from damage to gut from the infection,

creating " leaky gut syndrome " which allows large molecules to penetrate the gut

lining and sensitize the immune system); common ones are gluten, dairy, soy, and

corn

5) dental infections (such as those in root canals, etc.)

Each of these should be considered and addressed along the journey back to

wellness.

deb

> >

> > I just took the Igenex test that basically tests for lyme, not so much the

coinfections. The big test is 690.00 dollars !!! I am just wondering if I

really should invest in taking this to find out co-infections...i hear alot of

people talking about specific bacteria and treating them. Any thoughts?

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> You have to assume that if you have Borrelia, you likely have other bugs as

well. Whether you want to pay for the additional test is your choice. Some

would argue to save the money and treat the clinical symptoms.

agree about the general advice regarding the value of testing, best is to treat

based on the clinical picture. If only because the tests (even the better ones

like from IgeneX) always miss a % of the infections.

But I don't think you can say that Bb infection means a coinfection is likely. I

don't know the numbers for the US, but in most of Europe (where coinfections are

more likely AFAIK) maybe 20% of Lyme patients have coinfections. So that's a

minority, and some of them will be treated effictively by just treating the Bb

itself.

[Guest guest]

>

> My hubby tested for Lyme and all the co infections and even did the follow

> up test, the Epitope and he tested for Lyme & Ehrichlia.

> $1,295.00

I'm always amazed at the high costs for testing in the US. A full panel of

Borrelia and coinfection test (Bart, Babs, Ehrlichia and possibly a few others)

from a good lab in Germany will cost about EUR 350. Maybe the IgeneX test is

better, but most of these tests have not been independently validated anyway ...