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Quest labs taking a very long time

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Posted 10/11/2022 7:16 AM (GMT 0)
My pcp ordered basic Lyme testing through Quest so that I could see if I have any Lyme bands. The plan is to pursue further testing when I can afford it. It took me two months and a lot of money to get into my doctor and now my labs have been pending with Quest for 10 weeks. In the meantime, I am just trying different things to deal with unexplained symptoms.
Is anyone else having an issue getting results with Quest? I don’t know if I should continue waiting or just assume the test results have fallen into an abyss.
Posted 10/11/2022 7:42 AM (GMT 0)

Georgia Cloud said...
My pcp ordered basic Lyme testing through Quest so that I could see if I have any Lyme bands. The plan is to pursue further testing when I can afford it. It took me two months and a lot of money to get into my doctor and now my labs have been pending with Quest for 10 weeks. In the meantime, I am just trying different things to deal with unexplained symptoms.
Is anyone else having an issue getting results with Quest? I don’t know if I should continue waiting or just assume the test results have fallen into an abyss.


I would call them and ask them.
Igenex had my results back within 14 days.
Quest isn’t one of the better Lyme testing labs.
Are you paying for it - or is it covered under your medical insurance? If it’s the latter - then I would likely try that lab first too.
Posted 10/11/2022 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
yeah - that's way too long for any test - defo call them
Posted 10/11/2022 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Girlie and Garzie, thanks, I have tried contacting them but they just say they can’t release results until the testing is complete. My doctor’s office also tried contacting them and the said that they can’t give an estimate of when it will be done. At first they said it was taking so long because they had too many patients ordering those tests. Several weeks later they said it was because something that is needed to finish the test is on back order.
Posted 10/11/2022 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
As Girlie mentioned, Quest Lyme testing is not one of the better Lyme testing companies. Also, in the last 10 months or more, Ive noticed Labcorp has really stepped up on getting test results back quickly. While I don’t have Lyme tests there, I get a monthly CBC and Comp panel there, and it has been coming back in 2-3 days.

I signed up for being able to look at results online and always see them before the doctor. That’s just to let people know.

Hope you get those results back soon, and companies like Igenex are, as mentioned, much better at Lyme/co-infection testing, though it’s not cheap. I was surprised when I was able to get Medicare that Igenex accepts that.
Posted 10/11/2022 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Two things:

1. The standard ELISA/Western Blot is not a good test for diagnosis. There is lots of literature on that subject.

2. I get all my bloodwork through Quest. They are typically consistent with turnaround times. 10 weeks is outrageous. Call them and see what is going on.
Posted 10/12/2022 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Lymie24 and running wild, yes, I realize that these standard tests aren’t sensitive. However, my insurance does cover them and all my funds are going to my son who does have a positive test and is significantly affected. I just wanted to see if the same bands he had show up on standard testing also show up on mine. I have never been tested before but have tons of symptoms, so it was just a starting point.

Running wild, thank you. That is good to know about Labcorp. I am going to use them for future standard testing as I’ve had the same experience in the past. Quest has a portal also but I check it about twice a week and every other week, the lab results go from being listed as pending to just not existing. I contact them every time and then they put the status back to pending. That’s great that you were able to get Igenex testing with Medicare!
Posted 10/12/2022 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Georgia Cloud,

Gotcha! In your case that sounds like a smart plan. I get where you are coming from. I question the usefulness of these other labs especially when considering their costs. It's been awhile, but, I have tested through Igenex WB, DNA Connexions PCR, and ArminLabs Elispot. I can't remember the exact cost, but it was something like Igenex:400$, DNA Conn: 500$, ArminLabs: 500$. Nearly 1500$ worth of specialty lab testing and honestly I can't say these tests aided much in my treatment or diagnosis.

A while back one of my doctors wanted me to do GalaxyLabs Triple PCR for bartonella which costs $1600!!! I was like how about no lol. Living and treating this disease is SO expensive for us typical plebs. From my experience, and I grant experiences vary, the prices for these tests are insane and I didn't think I got good value out of them.
Posted 10/13/2022 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Prices are crazy. The panel my doctor just sent to Igenex is more than $2,600. At least that’s one good thing about getting to 65.

But, like so many of us, I’ve spent the insane amounts too. Wasn’t pushing Labcorp but I have noticed it’s renewed efforts to have labs back quicker.
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