How to get tested for LYME using a non LLMD. In Case you cannot afford to go to one. Here are some tips to get yr regular MD to do some testing. Remember yr MD will most likely need to be convinced to do these tests. You must interpret them yourself and get a copy for your health file. These tests are not 100 percent!!! But nothing is!!!

1.) HMK1 CD57 Panel;

If you would like your health care provider to order the CD57 NK test for you, your blood sample needs to be drawn into an EDTA tube (lavender top) on Monday through Thursday and sent immediately to either LabCorp in Burlington, NC, or Clinical Pathology Laboratories (CPL) in Austin, TX. LabCorp and CPL are the only two labs that perform this test properly. Quest does NOT. The LabCorp test code is #505026 and is named HNK1 (CD57) Panel. The CPL test code is #4886, CD57 for Lyme disease. The test is time-sensitive and must be performed within 12 hours of collection, so blood should not be drawn on a Friday or results may be inaccurate.

2.) Lyme, Western Blot, Serum; This test measure antibody. There are two screens IGG (chronic infections) and IGM acute infection.

You can have a cheap lab like Labcorp run the test and insurance will cover it, but it may turn up neg. That is why you do the CD57 along with it. If yr cd57 numbers are low...below 120 for a "healthy" 30 yr old, then I would have a expensive top notch lab do redo the Western Blot like Igenex.

You can go to their website for details on what papers yr MD need to fill out to send yr blood to them.

Or it may be time to save up and find a good LLMD, but since you did some leg work and have some evidence that you may have lyme it is now time to seek better help than yr MD.

This is what I did for my Hubby. His regular MD ran the two tests from labcorp. His WB came back neg but his CD57 test was low even though his MD said it wasn't at 115... There are differnt opinions on what is considered low. I suspect anything under 100 or close to that depending on yr age (the younger you are the higher it should be) !!! I suspected he had lymes even though his only symptoms were road rage, depression, (used to be laid back) and slight fatigue...He did Igenex and he came back positive. He had 5 lymes bands!!!!

I'm not a DR so and there are lots of different opinions on how to go about things...My way it the budget friendly way. I don't believe we have to spend 30 grand to 100 grand to get well. I am always looking to save a penny!!!!