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Age Old Testing Question but May not be Solid Answer

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 3/2/2020 2:00 PM (GMT -5)
This is simple question but answer may not be that simple.

Where is the best pace to have Lyme and co-infection tests done? I've read Armin, Igenex, Advanced Labs. Is there really one better than the other? Is difference in costs worth one over the other? I've looked at old posts and have not seen what I'm looking for.

Symptoms have ratcheted up and any time I get a test done it just seems to ad to confusion. A negative result for Lupus on kidney biopsy, yet show autoimmune symptoms. The tight neck muscle I have on left side is worse, as well is ones in back of neck. Some doctors have said the left side is a lymph node. others say muscle.

I'm trying to eliminate, rather than diagnosis, at this point. So going back to Lyme tests is part of that.
Posted 3/2/2020 2:50 PM (GMT -5)
I really don’t know if Igenex is better than Armin or vice versa.


Interestingly I got a positive pcr bart test through an unknown lab here in Canada - it was relatively inexpensive so thought “what the heck ”when a LLND suggested it.
(100/125per infection)
Posted 3/2/2020 3:02 PM (GMT -5)
And the big question - can you trust the lab? Of all those that you listed I think Igenex is the most trusted.
Posted 3/2/2020 3:03 PM (GMT -5)
Depends on what country you're in.

I had PCR test from dnaconnexions.
Posted 3/2/2020 3:14 PM (GMT -5)
Is PCR test better or is that debatable? And which lab did you use, Girlie?

Reason I'm not sure is because the last time I had tests done was through Armin. The test results didn't come back for weeks so my doctor contacted them. There was some confusion then I suddenly get results, all of which were negative, and I just tested positive for Borrelia about a month before on Labcrop. I still wonder if they just sent back some results all negative, rather than lose money.
Posted 3/2/2020 5:45 PM (GMT -5)

running wild said...
Is PCR test better or is that debatable? And which lab did you use, Girlie?

Reason I'm not sure is because the last time I had tests done was through Armin. The test results didn't come back for weeks so my doctor contacted them. There was some confusion then I suddenly get results, all of which were negative, and I just tested positive for Borrelia about a month before on Labcrop. I still wonder if they just sent back some results all negative, rather than lose money.

Is PCR better?

What I was told:
a positive pcr test means DNA of the bacteria was identified in the sample.
A negative one means in that sample no DNA of bacteria was seen. But - you could still have it - just not in that particular sample.

So- a positive is positive but a negative may be a false negative

Positive WB means you’re producing antibodies to the bacteria - but we can continue to produce those antibodies even after active infection resolves.
A positive WB doesn’t indicate active infection... it could represent an old (dormant) infection.
Posted 3/2/2020 5:50 PM (GMT -5)
The lab I used:

Health genetics

You can google “ health genetic testing ontario”

https:// http://www.dna-human.com/contact_us.asp

May not be secure.
Posted 3/2/2020 6:18 PM (GMT -5)
Girlie - when you had the positive for bart come back, were you having symptoms of that, as in the results seem to fit the symptoms? Over the years, I've paid so much for blood tests from Armin and Igenex. I want to make sure I get decently reliable testing done, but if I can do it without paying the crazy prices Armin and Igenex requires, that would be great.

It's like gambling, only with your health. But either way you go (higher cost or lesser) it's still a gamble on results. I remember seeing most positives are true positives. You may have posted that before.
Posted 3/2/2020 6:30 PM (GMT -5)
I have had some classic bart symptoms:

- swollen lymph nodes (although I guess any infection could cause that)
- sore bottoms of feet
- rib pain
- bone pain (particularly tailbone)
- nervous system symptoms were dominant

I don’t recall which ones I still had when I tested positive - as I did this pcr test after about 8 months to a year of treating bart.
Posted 3/3/2020 9:03 AM (GMT -5)
If your live in the US. MDL labs has a lot of tests they also take insurance. I had a western blot done with them they give a copy of the blot paper which is nice. I had a western blot and tests for all the co-infections the negotiated rate with insurance was $51 for all the tests. They also read the blot paper electronically rather then some individual holding it up to the light. I dont know what they do for PCR tests.
Posted 3/5/2020 12:27 PM (GMT -5)
skinny joe - I read about MDL after seeing your comments about it. Do you think it is reliable, and how did you end up having blood tests there. Thanks.
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