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Igenex culture test now available!

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Posted 1/9/2023 12:44 PM (GMT -5)
Igenex culture test is now available. It's been a long time coming.
Posted 1/9/2023 1:08 PM (GMT -5)
i imagine its better for tissue or joint fluid samples - rather than blood

as the BB spirochetes are rarely found in the blood - and tissue is where culture methods seem to have advantages
Posted 1/9/2023 2:22 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for posting ravenhome, it's been a long time coming indeed!

I think I found the page for it: https://igenex.com/culture-enhanced-pcr-testing/
Posted 1/9/2023 5:38 PM (GMT -5)
OK so its culture then PCR - a bit like Galaxy's DD-ePCR

i still think it will be less than idea for borrelia in blood in terms of sensitivity - unless in the very early stages - i.e. before seroconversion - which is the use case they mention.

interesting that they are offering a multiple species test in the same culture Borrelia, Babesia, bartonella, anaplasma - if i read it right - but the price tag is eye watering
Posted 1/9/2023 5:53 PM (GMT -5)
I had the original Advance Labs borrelia culture test years ago. Then the test went away.

A culture test, Sounds like a great test, .......but :

Problem #1, The longer you have Lyme disease the less it resides in your bloodl; oxygen kills it. Its mostly in white tissue and other non blood fluids.

#2 Spinal fluid is expensive and painful to “tap”.

——————

Edit: well maybe worthwhile for infections besides Borrelia? I see on that link they offer three versions of this test.

The advanced labs culture was just for Lyme. It was 500 Bucks Way back then, ouch. I guess compared to modern testing with IgenX, 500 bucks was nothing lol.

One thing about Western blot. If it is negative per CDC standards (five bands? )a closer look will reveal signs of lyme bacteria.

Post Edited (astroman) : 1/9/2023 9:47:09 PM (GMT-8)

Posted 1/9/2023 6:58 PM (GMT -5)
ravenhome777: Thank you for the news.

RainyCloud: Thanks for finding and sharing the link to the test and pricing.

I agree with Garzie on the pricing. More and more, it seems only the wealthy can afford to be chronically ill. But, by the end of treatment -- if it ever ends -- they may no longer be wealthy.
Posted 1/10/2023 7:17 AM (GMT -5)
i guess having another test option is overall a good thing

and if used intelligently there may be situations where the price tag still makes sense
eg -

1, early in disease course - eg 4 weeks after tick bite and suspected lyme disease (western blots and ELISA are normally negative in first 4-6 weeks) - and needs a positive result to get doctors to commence treatment ( assuming doctors or insurance co accept the cePCR results )

2, if a person is negative or not positive via the ridiculous "CDC positive" criteria on western blots - but needs a positive test result for insurance to cover treatment (assuming insurance co accepts the cePCR result)
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