TPMT Testing Prometheus????

Hello Everyone

My GI requested that I have some blood tests through Prometheus labs before I can start my Mercaptopurine, 6mp. He wants me to have the IBD sgi Diagnostic to differentiate between Crohn's or Colitis since my colonoscopy showed mixed signs of both (diagnosed with colitis though) I am also having the TPMT Enzyme test done.

Has anyone else had Prometheus labs come to your house to draw blood?

My insurance said they may not cover it because they don't know why the Lab would need to come to my house.
(I have blue cross blue shield)
I am afraid to make the appointment in the instance that my insurance denies the coverage, since the cost would come to $910.

Any feedback regarding PROMETHEUS would be helpful.

I had to go to an area hospital and my insurance did cover it. I think I paid $35, but this was five years ago. My TPMT test show my body is at the low end for metabolizing 6mp so I am only on a dose of 50 mg. My GI has told me I may could go to 75 mg, but based on the TPMT test, I will not go higher than that or risk liver issues.

The Prometheus Serology 7 test was very helpful at differentiating between CD and UC in my case. A lot of people here will downplay that test's predictive value, but most of the research I have done has shown it to be very accurate, and I have researched it very much because I was trying to disprove it as a viable test since it showed I had Crohn's disease and not UC.

Most insurances won't cover it, whether it's done at home or anywhere else.

Prometheus has a program to limit your bill to $250 if you are below a certain income so try calling them first.

Yea this is such a confusing situation. My doctors assistant keeps assuring me that it can only be done through prometheus in my area and my GI suggests it. He seems like an intelligent doctor but he's been testing me for soo much that I'm not sure the IBD diagnostic is even necessary for the cost that it may end up being.

I have to do more research through BCBS. I have contacted prometheus and said that if worse comes to worse they can lower each test to about $250 which is much better. But $500 is still lots of money :/

Thanks for all the feed back everyone! Much appreciated!!

I had lots of prometheus tests. Diagnosis tests Serology 7(old) SGI(new). I also had TPMT test and 3 or 4 time metabolic test.

Dignostic tests costs around $700. I had it pre approved by my GI office so after little argument insurance paid them.

For metabolic tests they charge $270 but my insurance pays me little so I send them copy of EOB and prometheus write off rest of amount. I pay only what my insurance sends me for that test.

I am not sure about how reliable it is. I was diagnosed with Crohn's colitis on serology 7 and now it says indermined on SGI test.