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Posted 7/20/2015 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Is the IGENEX 6050 Complete Lyme Panel a good place to start with a diagnosis of Lyme Disease? Kinda limited on funds for out of pocket testing. Any suggestions will greatly be appreciated!
Posted 7/20/2015 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
It's their most comprehensive Lyme testing 'package'. So yes, it's a good one. You are actually getting 3 tests for that price - the ELISA (which is a horrid test as far as accuracy goes), the Western Blot and a PCR test.

Do realize that it is highly likely that you have co-infections, and that this is not testing for them. The testing for co-infections is worse than it is for Lyme testing though, so many LLMD's only do clinical diagnosis for co-infections.
Posted 7/20/2015 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Do most insurance companies cover the co-infection testing with the LLMDs. I'm trying to locate a LLMD in my area as well.
Posted 7/20/2015 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
No, most insurance companies will fight you tooth and nail to avoid paying for anything to do with Lyme, but there are the exceptions.

Not many LLMD's accept insurance because it's the insurance companies that will turn them in for using too high a dose of abx, or for extended use of abx - anything that deviates from the IDSA's treatment standards - the ones that leave people sick and dying.

But, that doesn't stop you from turning in receipts to see if you can get reimbursed!!!

I just put a bunch of new links in the "New to Lyme?" thread, and insurance denials was one that I posted a lot of links for - near the bottom of page 2.
Posted 8/7/2015 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
I'm awaiting the Igenex complete Lyme panel... Cam anyone tell me how accurate the PCR test is, how useful compared to WB? I'm hoping it's worth the extra money
Posted 8/7/2015 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
OP - If funds are tight, you could do just the Lyme Western Blot IgM and IgG - that's what a lot of us do...it's the best one - if you need to choose one.


Toronto - PCR is highly accurate when the Lyme DNA is detected, but this test does produce many false negatives. False negatives are because the Lyme bacteria may not be in that specific sample that is tested.
Posted 8/7/2015 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
Traveler posted that the 6050 test panel included the ELISA, but I just had it done and they actually use the Lyme IFA (test 230).

I don't know if the IFA is more reliable but it is still just a screening test. Mine came back equivocal but the IgM was positive.

I agree with Girlie that having that screening test isn't really necessary because if it is equivocal or positive the next test you would have done would be the IgM and IgG. The screening tests (ELISA and IFA) are supposed to weed out people who definitely don't have Lyme from the people who might have it. At least that would be true if the screening tests were accurate.

It's unlikely that insurance would pay for the test especially since Igenex is considered a "specialty" lab.

If you want to try to get insurance to pay, I would go onto your insurance company's website and search for their coverage policy bulletin for Lyme.

It will tell you what tests are required and what treatments they cover.

My insurance company is A***a. Their policy bulletin requires you test positive or equivocal on the ELISA or IFA. After that they will pay for the Western Blot, but not from a specialty lab (rules out Igenex). So basically, you go to Labcorp for the ELISA or IFA. If that is positive/equivocal, they will pay for a Western Blot from Labcorp.

If you test positive on the Western Blot, then they cover 3 weeks of doxycycline. The bulletin then goes on to list the things they won't pay for. It's everything than anyone has ever used: IV antibiotics, nutritional IVs, ... Their reason for every single thing is it is an "experimental" treatment.

You can try to force them to cover things but it will be a long hard road. They also may stop paying for other diagnosis. The insurance companies don't want to pay for anything and will claim both sides. For example, they will say that your symptoms can't be from both Fibromyalgia and Lyme. So if you have a positive Lyme test then they may say they won't pay for Fibromyalgia treatment.

Just a warning. I didn't explain it very well, but I'm going to post more details in it's own thread. My doctor warned me yesterday and he hates insurance companies and always shares the best way to work around them.

Sorry to be so down on it.

Kim
Posted 8/9/2015 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
If I said that the IFA was the ELISA, then I was mistaken. It's not the same, but they are both very poor tests.
" Tests for Lyme disease using IFA have received mixed reviews and some authors believe that the interpretations of IFA assays are overly subjective and that the tests are either functionally insensitive for Lyme-specific antibodies or display considerable cross-reactions with antibodies to other spirochetal organisms."

www.igenex.com/labtest.htm
Scroll down a bit to see the information on testing.
Posted 8/9/2015 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
can a test be negative for ELISA and WB but positive for PCR?
Posted 8/9/2015 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, Toronto - The PCR is actually seeing DNA of the bacteria in the sample. The WB and Elisa are detecting antibodies...which is dependent on a functioning immune system. So, you can test negative on the WB and Elisa, but positive with the PCR.

The PCR is accurate, but if that sample (which is a small sample) didn't have any lyme bacteria DNA in it, then it would be negative - even though you have lyme, just no DNA in that small sample of blood. And, from what I have read, that is fairly common..
Posted 8/9/2015 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
That's what I've read as well, Girlie. That it takes a high concentration of bacterial in the sample (blood, plasma, CFS fluid) for even PCR tests to come back positive, which is why we don't encourage people to have spinal taps - it's more often going to be a negative result since it's hard for large numbers of bacteria to get into the CFS fluid, and it's an invasive procedure.
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