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son with lyme disease



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04/12/2007 05:10
estor12
Posts: 3
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Hi everybody,

We just came back from the doc who said he thinks my son has lyme disease (thinks ?!?!).

He needs to do a couple of tests which I didn’t really understand.

It was so confusing. So many things fall on you at once.

I would also like to get a second opinion on this, can anyone recommend a good doctor for us?

Also I would very much like to hear from other who were in this spot.

What are the first steps to take?

What next???

Please help me.

estor

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05/04/2007 10:39
Bettyg
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Posts: 166
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estor12,

i'm just going to copy/paste info here on WESTERN BLOT IGM AND IGG BLOOD TEST that should be drawn and sent to IGENEX, PALO ALTO, CALIF. to test the 16 protein bands for lyme. i'm giving you extra info here as well including a link at the bottom explaining how to read the numbers of POSITIVE AND UNDERMINED; you don't care about the negatives; just the others ok!

don't get a 2nd opinion at this time; have your primary dr. order this for your son. you can have IGENEX send you a western blot kit and then you can read their REQUIRED FORM TO BE RETURNED that needs to be signed by dr., etc. IT'S PRE-PAY $190 i believe now. when you call them, you can double-=check the $$$.

this is your first step; get the results then we can go from there! ok.

************************************************************ ********

IGENEX , CALIF. BLOOD TESTINGS

 Please note: What you are about to read below is NOT meant to scare any of you from any lyme testings done; it’s meant to be informed PRIOR to going into having various tests done and then be told what the costs will be!

 Mine was sticker $$ shock on various testings done by my 2nd LLMD/new to me in 4=06. Those tests/results are found elsewhere in my links/advise.

 Igenex's charges for these below things cost $905, which I figured up the last 2 days for 2 other folks includes

 The below tests were done for ME; you MAY NOT NEED them all ok! :

 western blot IGM & IGG, this is MANDATORY for you which costs $190 total for 2 tests done;

 *******************************************************

 OPTIONAL ONES ARE:

 co-infection panel for YOUR AREA OF COUNTRY;

 PCR WHOLE BLOOD...this is what my LLMD ordered!

It's PREPAY! unless you are on medicare; IGX will file the

paperwork & it's FREE to you.

go to www.igenex.com and read over their info.

 Also, call 1-800.832.3200 for CURRENT PRICES!

 They will also send you a “test kit” with their required form, all the test vials, & box to ship it in! OUT OF USA will take longer to receive!

What I gave you was 2-06 prices; went up 11-06!

 You need to DOWNLOAD IGENEX’s required form.

 MD must sign, date, and show DIAGNOSIS CODE on there why he’s ordering the test. Make sure you show to FAX results and SNAIL MAIL PAPER COPY! My results were lost for 4-5 weeks! Bettyg 

 When you get your results, please post them in MEDICAL;

 ONLY the POSITIVE & IND ones ....not the negative ones!

 Also, look for post by LYMETOO/TUTU on DR. C’s (Missouri) explanation of the western blot IGM & IGG numbers. They are listed on another page in my links ok! 

Top 4 lyme/tick diagnostic labs in USA:

1. Igenex, Calif.;

2. MD LABS, NJ; www.mdlab.com

3. Stoneybrook, NYC, SUNY Stonybrook:

www.path.sunysb.edu/labs/ticklab/TICKLAB.htm and

4. Bowen labs, Florida

Stoneybrook is the campus where State University of New York has it's Lyme lab. I don't know exactly where it is located-I think on Long Island. Kris

COMPLETING BCBS HEALTH INSURANCE “CLAIMS” TO SUBMIT TO COMPANY:

*************

1. cross out in heavy marker any info you do NOT bcbs to know; credit card numbers, etc. OR put a post it note on that area.

2. you do NOT have to send certified, etc.

fyi --- des moines, iowa's bcbs LOST my info many times internally and perhaps it is still lost!

nov. 06 i filed with iowa insurance co. a complaint form against bcbs for not paying $4300 out of pocket for my lyme expenses since they would not process any of my lyme claims! they have sat on these, lost them, and denied verbally but not sent me WRITTEN DENIAL FORMS! in 8 months!

3. yes, on each form you complete, show the DATE MAILED WRITTEN IN! you will need that each bcbs asks you this.

what i did is this:

*******************

prepare a MASTER COPY of completed info it requests:

our name, address, phone no., PERSON'S BCBS ID NO. .... make sure you have the ENTIRE NO. WRITTEN DOWN!

I SIGNED THIS ORIGINAL SAVING ME TIME FOR FUTURE ONES.

do NOT date !

i messed up; left last digit off and no one noticed!!

Then i made 12 copies on my scanner/copier!

*******************************************

then i'd complete one PER DR./LOCATION

showing the date done, what was gotten, and then WRITE IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT PER INVOICE!!

EXAMPLES: if you have 2 or more bills from SAME DR., shown them on this ONE claim form,

but after each invoice shown, type of service gotten, write in the $$ amount of invoice.

do this for each one until you have this specific dr/location done

then show a grand total also for this dr!!

****************************************

take one of your other forms for pharmacies; EACH PHARMACY IS SEPARATE!

you can combine the SAME PHARMACIES TOGETHER; again, show the total amount per invoice!!

when done, make copies of:

***************************

. EACH CLAIM FORM

. each billing invoice

note: IF THEY ARE SMALL PIECES OF PAPER, PUT SEVERAL TO "SAME DR. OR PHARAMACY" ON A 8.5 SHEET OF PAPER TAPING THEM TO IT SO THEY ARE NOT LOST.

in my case, i got the name of the lead worker at this bcbs billing station, and sent ALL CLAIMS TO HER; even had typed address label with her name HIGHLITED!

hope this helps you! when done, go thru everything again so nothing is overlooked; have your family help you

double check that bcbs ID NO. and that all 9 digits appears!

now print off everyone's suggestions; place in a file folder for future use ok.

Tick Specialty Labs: Too Many Positive Findings?

They Save Lives

By James S., MD, MAR, PA, DABPN, DABFM

I asked Dr. Harris, from the internationally respected, IGeneX labs, to reply to the dubious comment that IGeneX "only has positive findings."

This is not valid for many reasons. First, many physicians using IGeneX get negative results. Further, IGenex has done quality assurance studies with appropriate negative findings in uninfected controls. And the company, as you can see below, has done a great deal to be certified and licensed.

The "all results are positive comment" is lazy, sloppy and uninformed. Lyme is the leading vector illness in the USA. A positive result should not be rare.

*********

IGeneX, Inc. is a reference laboratory located in Palo Alto, California specializing in Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. We take pride in the quality and diversity of the testing that we perform on samples from around the world.

IGeneX is licensed by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and is strictly regulated by CLIA. We are licensed in all states, including California, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida where special licensing is required.

The laboratory is inspected by these state and federal agencies on a regular basis. A Ph.D. consultant is also used to ensure that our laboratory is current with all the compliance regulations.

IGeneX participates in all proficiency programs required, such as New York State. Independent specialty laboratories, such as IGeneX, who have a narrow focus in testing, typically are not certified by CAP, but we do participate in the CAP Proficiency programs.

IGeneX has been testing clinical samples for over 11 years. The staff consists of a Laboratory Director, an MD Clinical Consultant, and several other MDs who also are licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientists who manufacture and perform tests. The personnel responsible for the test quality and performance are all licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientists, most of whom have been with IGeneX for many years. Our Research team is comprised of qualified PhDs and MDs and experienced Research Associates.

Customer Service is our main goal and the office staff is always willing to assist our patients and physicians. We take pride in our trained personnel that have worked together for years.

IGeneX is continually working on the advancement of existing tests. In addition, IGeneX is committed to designing and researching new technologies and opportunities. Our goal is to give Lyme patients and their physicians state-of-the-art tools for diagnosis of Lyme and other tick-related diseases.

--------------

[Steve Andison Comment] The Federal Center for Disease Control periodically ships identified samples of what they know to be positive and negative samples to IGeneX to determine the accuracy of their testing procedures. Their accuracy rate for both positives and negatives is unsurpassed by any facility in the United States and with their state-of-the-art techniques and equipment, they may be the most accurate lab for diseases carried by ticks.

WESTERN BLOT IGM AND IGG RESULTS EXPLANATIONS FROM

DR. C IN MISSOURI, PLUS BABESOSA TEST NO. & MORE!!

A MUST READ FOR ALL from LYMETOO/TUTU !!

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi? ubb=print_topic;f=1;t=042077

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