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I don't understand how to get the IgeneX test done.

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Posted 8/14/2017 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I am going to see my primary care physician but don't understand how to get tested properly for Lyme.

Through much searching and reading on these forums it looks like the IgeneX test is the best one to go for. What is the best way to get this completed? Do I go to my primary care physician and ask him to order this test and then draw the blood etc? Or do I have to order it myself and bring it in (I assume nobody expects me to draw vials of blood myself).

Can someone please educate me on the best way to get this done? I want to get tested properly the very first time.
Posted 8/14/2017 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
You have pretty much answered your own question. Ask your primary care doctor if he will order the specific test. If not, (my primary care would not, they insisted on using Quest), you can order the test and have a blood draw and send it in yourself. My llmd did do testing through igenix. Many llmds rely primarily on igenix for testing
Posted 8/14/2017 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
You need to order the test kit from Igenex (unless your Dr. already has a kit - if he isn't Lyme literate he most likely does not)

www.igenex.com

Give them a call, they'll send the test kit for free.

Then take it to your Dr. and he needs to sign the lab req. The best bang for your buck is the Lyme WB Igm and Igg for total of $210.

Then you get the blood drawn...either at your Dr. office...or go to a lab.
This must be done on Monday or Tuesday and sent off via Fedex right away.

Three weeks later - approximately - test results are in.
Posted 8/14/2017 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the education on this. so I'll be ordering my own igenex test. My best chance of accurate diagnosis is to order the

Lyme WB (western blot?) IGM
Igg

then I can order a blood draw at my primary care physician where they will draw the blood for me (this should be done on Monday or Tuesday) and I need to fedex it immediately after it is complete.

If anyone has any other suggestions then I'll be happy to hear.
Posted 8/14/2017 6:08 PM (GMT 0)

brongfogboy said...
thanks for the education on this. so I'll be ordering my own igenex test. My best chance of accurate diagnosis is to order the

Lyme WB (western blot?) IGM
Igg

then I can order a blood draw at my primary care physician where they will draw the blood for me (this should be done on Monday or Tuesday) and I need to fedex it immediately after it is complete.

If anyone has any other suggestions then I'll be happy to hear.

Yes Lyme WB IgM and IgG

I believe the test numbers on the sheet are # 188 and 189.

There are instructions on how to do the blood draw. I believe for those two test, it needs to be 'spun'.
The lab tech should know what to do.

Yes early in the week - as it needs to get to Fedex before they close for the week-end - or its' sitting for a couple more days.
Posted 8/14/2017 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know what part of the country you are in, but if you live within driving distance of Igenex it is a whole lot easier to go directly to them. They do the draw, and you'll have results sooner because there is not the wait for the test kit and the time sending it back.
Posted 8/14/2017 6:21 PM (GMT 0)

mareish said...
I don't know what part of the country you are in, but if you live within driving distance of Igenex it is a whole lot easier to go directly to them. They do the draw, and you'll have results sooner because there is not the wait for the test kit and the time sending it back.

Really, mareish? I never knew that they did blood draws there.

Wow, thanks for this information.
Posted 8/14/2017 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, they do. I went there to speed up the process and was there for a total of about 15 minutes. No appointment is needed, but it is probably a good idea to check in with them first.

Good luck!
Posted 8/14/2017 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Brongfogboy - I forgot to add that you need to take with you to Igenex the lab requisition form signed by your physician.

The form can easily be downloaded/printed from the Igenex website.
Posted 8/14/2017 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Girlie, I was in desperate need of possible answers and could not stand the thought of having to order the kit, wait to receive the kit, go to lab for draw, mail back kit, wait for time it takes to do test, etc, so I called Igenex and asked if they can do the draw. Answer was a beautiful, "yes".

I was the only one there for a draw. No wait of any kind except for the filling out of a couple of forms. Too easy.

Takes 12 to 14 days for results, and results are send to doc who signed lab requisition form.
Posted 8/14/2017 9:45 PM (GMT 0)

mareish said...
Girlie, I was in desperate need of possible answers and could not stand the thought of having to order the kit, wait to receive the kit, go to lab for draw, mail back kit, wait for time it takes to do test, etc, so I called Igenex and asked if they can do the draw. Answer was a beautiful, "yes".

I was the only one there for a draw. No wait of any kind except for the filling out of a couple of forms. Too easy.

Takes 12 to 14 days for results, and results are send to doc who signed lab requisition form.

Wonderful!

It does make sense - they are a lab after all.

And yes, sooner results - no delay with waiting for the kit - and FedEx to return the sample!

Learn something new everyday here! yeah
Posted 8/14/2017 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
consider the dna connexions test , no doc needed
Posted 8/14/2017 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
For subsequent Igenex tests I have gone to Bioreference Lab. They do the draw for Igenex and send it directly. No need for Igenex kit. Still need the doc's signature, though.

Perhaps other labs provide the same service?
Posted 8/15/2017 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
UPS has overnight shipping and I think it is less costly, last time I checked.
Posted 8/15/2017 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
How long does it take Igenex to ship the kit? I put in my request two weeks ago and haven't received anything.
Posted 8/15/2017 2:49 PM (GMT 0)

philsguy10 said...
How long does it take Igenex to ship the kit? I put in my request two weeks ago and haven't received anything.

I would give them a call and track the order:

Igenexx - http://www.igenex.com/
795 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA
US: (800) 832-3200
International: +1 (650) 424-1191
Email: [email protected]
Posted 8/15/2017 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
I just ordered a kit from IGenex and will hopefully be able to get my primary doc to sign the form. I received an order confirmation, so we'll see how long it takes to receive the kit.
Posted 10/6/2017 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
My brother was diagnosed with ALS July 2017 by one doctor. Another doctor thinks it could be multifocal motor neuropathy. He has taken several ivig infusion treatments. He took standard Lyme test it was negative. He took the igenex Lyme test and he got 4 1/2 bands positive . The doctor who is a infectious disease doctor said the ivig infusion treatment could have interfered with the results. Doctor wants my brother to take the igenex Lyme test over again in January 2018.Does anyone have an opinion on this.
Posted 10/6/2017 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
LMGraff you should start a new thread so more people will see it. I had 4 bands on my Igenex IGG. On the report it said negative, but I am treating with my LLMD anyway.

I read through the long, long CDC study where they talked about band count and pattern. They had a chart that listed specificty to Lyme. I think 2 bands were like 40%, 3 bands were 80%, 4 bands were 100%, and 5 bands were 100%. I will try to find the PDF study.

I think you should pursue additional opinons
Posted 10/6/2017 9:35 PM (GMT 0)

Lmgraff said...
My brother was diagnosed with ALS July 2017 by one doctor. Another doctor thinks it could be multifocal motor neuropathy. He has taken several ivig infusion treatments. He took standard Lyme test it was negative. He took the igenex Lyme test and he got 4 1/2 bands positive . The doctor who is a infectious disease doctor said the ivig infusion treatment could have interfered with the results. Doctor wants my brother to take the igenex Lyme test over again in January 2018.Does anyone have an opinion on this.

Hi Lmgraff - welcome to our community.

Which bands were positive on the Igenex test? There are lyme 'specific' bands that only lyme will cause to be positive.

I have never heard that before - about IVIG infusions interfering with a lyme WB test.

I think you should find a Lyme Literate Dr. (LLMD) to see your brother. Not an ID Dr. who isn't qualified.

Waiting until January when someone has ALS symptoms - is dangerous IMO. He needs to be treated for Lyme now if he does have Lyme. And with 4 bands positive - this could definitely be lyme. (I don't know which 4 they are though that your brother has)
Posted 10/6/2017 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Girlie
I new to this site and I can't figure out how to reply directly to a post post . Please let me know how I can do that.
Thanks
Posted 10/7/2017 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
You can just post and mention the person's name in the post that you are replying to.


Or you can click on one of the 'tools' - upper right hand side of the person's post...that looks like a cartoon bubble - (white box with an exclamation mark in it) - and it will bring up what the person said into a new post. (If you hover over it, it says "quote this post"

Then underneath it, you can post your reply.
Posted 10/7/2017 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Girlie
I'm not sure if my brother got a copy of igenex Lyme test results,if not I'll tell him to get it and I will post results. The infection disease doctor wants to send him to LLMD. The ID doctor said the results came out in a grey area and meds were going to make him weaker,he wants to talk to the ALS about the results . So that's where things are righ now.
Posted 10/7/2017 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
That's good if the ID Dr. wants him to see a LLMD...Yes..schedule an appt. a.s.a.p. - sometimes there's several weeks wait to get in to see one...so get on this right away.
Posted 10/7/2017 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
Girlie
My brother has slurred speech and muscle wasting , do you know if anyone has had similar symptoms associated with Lyme disease?
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