HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Labcorp no longer a good lab for testing for Lyme disease!!!

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/26/2014 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
"Labcorp will not offer a western blot test for individuals unless they are positive or equivocal for the Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) or Immunoflorescense (IFA) screening tests for Lyme disease as of August 11, 2014.

Physicians have been disappointed by the poor sensitivity of the EIA or IFA screening tests for Lyme disease. The sensitivity of the whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to the B31 strain typically falls between 33-49% for patients presenting with an EM. The sensitivity of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved complement peptide C6 (C6-peptide) was 37% in 89 clinically well-defined individuals with LD and 66.5% 403 sera from patients with an EM rash.[6]

Physicians have commonly ordered the western blot test for Lyme disease even in the absence of positive or equivocal testing. An IgM Western blot test can persist for at least 2 years in individuals with established Lyme disease infection. A IgM WB can persist for months to years in LD even if an individual is treated with antibiotics. An IgG can be positive in individuals with a negative screening test."

"It important that LabCorp reverse their position and allow physicians to continue to order western blot tests for Lyme disease even if the EIA and/or IFA are negative. Until then, clinicians may have to direct their patients to other labs."
danielcameronmd.com/labcorp-deny-physicians-access-western-blot-tests-lyme-disease/
Posted 8/26/2014 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
I posted about this a week or so ago...but got mixed reaction ...with some people posting that it's always been like that...but that's not what I read....it is definitely a change...it's what they do here in Canada...I tested negative on the Elisa...so they wouldn't do the WB, and had to go the Igenex route.

Step backward for sure.
I thought progress was being made with the Lyme testing/diagnosing/treating.....not looking like it though. sad
Posted 8/26/2014 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Something is awry...I contacted labcorp and complained how inaccurate the EIA was and that their testing should be based on science and not politics....
Posted 8/26/2014 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Now I do remember your post, Girlie!! So sorry that I duplicated it!

What's new is that Labcorp will no longer do the WB without the ELISA. Period. It's no longer up to the doctor.

I wish all of the politics about this disease would just stop!!! Then we would be left with honest scientific information, not a bunch of "expert" opinions from people that have ulterior motives.
Posted 8/26/2014 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
That's okay Trav - you posted more info than I did.
Posted 8/26/2014 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
This is not a good thing. :( I"m not sure what lab my doctor used, I guess I should check!
Posted 8/26/2014 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Igenex better hire some more lab techs...they're going to be swamped.

I'm limiting myself to one-liner's today - that's about all my brain can handle. hehehe
Posted 8/26/2014 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
At the LLMD office yesterday the FedEx guy carried out 7 Igenex kits while I was in the lobby.
Plus the doc said they used to get results within 7-10 business days and they've been taking up to 3 weeks lately for results.
So it looks like they are already pretty swamped.
Posted 8/26/2014 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious if Labcorp will no longer be doing this what regular lab would take that "market" if you will? I know Igenex is available but what about those who are not able to be educated like we on this forum are. This breaks my heart as if the suffering isn't already bad enough.
Posted 8/27/2014 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I often wonder, too gingeranne about the people who aren't educated/knowledgeable about Lyme disease - how they must be suffering. It's hard enough with the knowledge we have. I know how I felt last winter - no wonder some people end up in the psyche ward. It's sad.
Posted 8/27/2014 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
That's why I like to talk about my own experiences here and where I live- it helps others to know a bit more. One of these days I'm going to start an information/support group for my local area too. I have to heal (again) first is all.
Posted 8/27/2014 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Trav - I talk about it too. When I filled my ammox script a few days ago, the pharmacist said..."Five weeks on the antibiotic? how come so long...do you mind if I ask what you have?"

So we had a half hour conversation about lyme disease....
This happened with another pharmacist when I filled my zithro prescription several weeks ago, too.

I tell everyone I can about it. Anyone who wamts to listen...and even those who don't....lol.
Posted 8/27/2014 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
LOL! Yep!! That's me as well! If they stand still too long, they might have to hear about it!! turn Giggle!

Not really, it usually takes them asking a question or complaining about their symptoms or a doctor for me to bring up Lyme - at least that's what I've gone to. When I first was diagnosed, if they stood still too long, they were going to hear about Lyme! That's how I found out how woefully equipped we are here in Arkansas for dealing with these infections. There's not one single Lyme literate doctor in my area. I'm slowly educating a few doctors - as I go in with this or that, but it's slow going that way!!! They want to see proof.

I'm involved with a letter writing campaign that has just started on Facebook - anyone interested can email me and I'll share a link! - to help educate not only doctors in your local area, but your legislators too. They are the ones that will change how we are treated by passing laws that keep the doctors from being harassed.

If we do all that we can do to help educate people with the actual truth, then all the misinformation that others are spreading around won't matter. People will believe those that heal and are able to move on with their lives!!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply