Galaxy Dx Bart & Co-infection testing

I just had a few questions for anyone experienced in this:
- Which bart test would you recommend? The full $900 package? How accurate are these known to be?
- They also offer co-infection testing, should I consider these?
- If I order a test kit, do I draw myself or how should I approach this?


Thanks

saiyaex -

I wouldn't spend $900 on ANY test unless your insurance company demands it and you need insurance coverage for long-term treatment (or at least the math supports that investment) and your LLMD has a plant o help create a more accurate test.

I would not test for lyme with ANYTHING else other than IGeneX test. CDC recommends a two-tiered testing approach so most MDs will test w/ an ELISA test first (which is a very broad test that is supposed to indicated if your immune system is battling an infection), because that the CDC recommendations are what the insurance companies go by.

Only if the ELISA is positive, are MDs recommended to test to confirm lyme with a Western Blot test, which is specific to lyme. So, since ELISA tests miss 50% of people who actually have lyme, most of the people don't get a Western Blot test (MDs won't order it and insurance companies generally don't pay for it), and are therefore under the misconception that they don't have lyme. Many LLMDs (like mine) ignore that and test with WB anyway. Luckily my insurance paid for it.

My LLMD tested me with Fry Labs, which was positive and she's treating for bart, accordingly. I think it was a couple hundred - can't remember.

I tested negative on ELISA. I've shared with others here before that my LLMD then "provoked" a more accurate WB lyme test by having me take olive leaf extract for 4-5 wks before retesting with WB, which showed I was CDC positive. I don't know that there is such a strategy for bart testing.

And if you're going to test specifically for coinfections you really need to have some idea from your symptoms, which coinfections you're more likely to have.

There is some good info on this in the "New to Lyme?" thread. But if you can't find what you're looking for - definitely continue asking questions.

Hope this is helpful -

-p

Thanks for all the feedback. I have heard Galaxy is quite accurate, and I initially started to consider it because Buhner mentions it. Here is a a small excerpt from his book:

"A new PCR test, recently introduced by Galaxy Diagnostics, is apparently more sensitive form of the test, especially for immuno-competent individuals. It is designed to stimulate growth of the bacteria to PCR-detectable levels. The test is purported to be 98 percent effective for 26 species of bartonella. (Unfortunately they did not respond to repeated inquiries from me about their test).

It appears from current outcomes that a combination test using Galaxy PCR and IFA is the most effective approach to a reliable diagnosis."

From Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections - Page 300.

So both Buhner and the lab website (obviously the website would make the claim, though) insist that it is fairly accurate - and tests for 26 species. I'm not trying to play the devil's advocate, just trying to figure out what I should do. I know my mind would certainly be at ease with something on paper, but if you are all right that it is horribly inaccurate, I don't want to waste money.

Has anyone here actually ordered a test from Galaxy?

Post Edited (saiyaex) : 6/15/2016 2:51:16 PM (GMT-6)

Having had many negative bart tests with other labs before a positive galaxy test I can tell you galaxy is about as good as it comes for bart. That being said it is very expensive and nothing is 100%. I had to do the galaxy tests for my sanity because I knew I had bart just never tested positive til galaxy. I agree that testing isn't "necessary" to treat. It more peace of mind.

The problem is more with the testing than the lab. There are several decent labs for testing for these infections, but the testing is very questionable still. You MAY get a positive, but many don't. The ELISA misses up to 70% of those that actually have Lyme, the Western Blot misses up to 50% of those that actually have Lyme, plus there are over 100 strains of Lyme, and only 2 are tested for.

As for the co-infections, they are even less accurate, partly because Lyme reduces our immune function, partly because it only takes a small amount of bacteria to cause major illness. So it can depend on the day that the blood is drawn as to whether or not a person will get a positive or negative test - even by PCR.

If you need these tests, I would suggest that you do what you can to help 'provoke' a positive result by using something to raise your immune function (many have successfully used Olive leaf), and watch for days when you herx and have your blood drawn on one of those days. I've seen it reported more often that these are the things done for those that need to have a positive test result.

When we get right down to it though, there are no good tests for these infections.

Tommy08 said...
For what it is worth:

Before I registered here, I was a lurking member over at MDJunction .. There was a guy there who had the tell-tale red streaks - he posted photos ... He said he had done the triple draw from Galaxy, and came up negative all three times ..

Either Galaxy missed it, or, the red streaky lines can be something other than bartonella

No doubt at all that these tests miss infections often and are very inaccurate which is why it is very wise to treat symptomatically and why ILADS ( & even galaxy ) recommends it. Everyone on this board is correct.

I am antibody positive but that was after my immune system recovered some. Dr. M say it generally takes 6+ months to produce antibodies for Bartonella if you produce them at all.

As for the question about bart testing Galaxy is generally known as your best bet. They test for more species than any other. It has a similar reputation as IGenex for lyme.

The triple draw just gives one whole test result. If you are positive once you are positive. They also test for species specific cultures along with testing for antibodies on the triple draw.

I was not on abx for over a year when I took the test. I believe they recommend being off them for 20 days (?) I can't remember. You would have to look on the web page.