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GI ordered a prometheus test, not sure why

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/18/2011 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
Or what it could be for, does anyone know?
Posted 7/18/2011 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Promethius tests for several things: blood levels of Imuran, estimates of your body's ability to use Imuran. They also do a test (which some GI's consider not reliable) to determine whether Crohn's or UC is present.

Since you're on Imuran, the most likely explanation is that he's checking for Imuran levels in your blood, to see if the medication is at a therapeutic level.
Posted 7/18/2011 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I get the Prometheus metabolites test every 6 months or so to see how my body is metabolizing my 6mp.
Posted 7/18/2011 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
thanks, that makes sense to me, b/c my liver levels were very high in March 6x the normal amt then in April they were 3x normal, then in June they were 1 point above normal.
Posted 7/18/2011 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I get them pretty frequently too for the same reason.
Posted 7/18/2011 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I had the Prometheus test done last year to check levels of Remicade in my system.  Apparently they are one of the few places that can test this. 

Be forwarned, my insurer wouldn't pay for it and I got a bill for $270.   

Posted 7/18/2011 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
I had mine done for Remicade levels. I had to pay out of pocket too. Around $200
Posted 7/18/2011 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had to pay anything out of pocket. I had 6mp levels checkedd 5 or 6 times. You should check with your insurance, it seems many have problems getting these tests covered. It's silly that insurance companies won't cover, these tests are necessary.
Posted 7/18/2011 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
I had one too, to check my Imuran levels... and yes, definitely check it out first with your insurer! I was lucky & didn't have to pay a cent, but many, many people do have to pay the full cost out of pocket. It's because only this one lab out in CA performs the tests, so your insurer is apt to think "Hey, what's the deal, can't any lab do this stuff???". I think it's some independent lab too, so it's not like it's "in network" for any insurance company! The results will be interesting though, you may think you're on a high dose of Imuran, & it may turn out tht your body is able to metabolize it pretty well, so your dose isn't what it looks like. It allows the GI to really play around with the dosing, get it up to a maximum therapeutic level for you. I think the labs run around $250-$300.
Posted 7/18/2011 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
 

What I don't get is this, Promethius has the only test for Remicade levels and Remicade is approved for use with UC.  So......., in my case, the Prometius test confirmed that I had developed anti-bodies to it.  As a consequence, I was taken off Remicade, this is a huge net savings to the insurance company (yet they won't pay for the test)!

 

Posted 7/18/2011 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Scarecrow, that really doesn't make any sense. You would have probably continued taking remicade without any benefit to your condition and they would have paid for the useless treatment. Things are so backwards sometimes.
Posted 7/21/2011 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I get these done to check my remicade levels.  To see how much remicade is in my system and to see if I am forming antibodies to the remicade.  They check the remicade levels to see if I need to up my remicade dose(which they did in August, after a year of being on it, now I'm at 7.5 every eight weeks) or if they should up my infusion to every 6 weeks(they haven't done that yet). 

They are exspensive and I had to fight with my insurance company to get them paid.  I will usually get two or three bills after they run the test before my insurance covers them and they will only cover so many a year. 

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