Good luck MM
Remember that Dr Silver often talks about restless legs syndrome.
My legs ache on and off and i think Anna has this to
MM - just wondering why it was so expensive. i know full panel w coinf is a few hundred dollars and was told by those tested in UK that it was free to ship kit to UK. thx just wondering so i get m y info straight if anyone from UK asks me ques
That is expensive…but then again I am currently paying off my second MRI which was $1500 after insurance and it didn’t provide any new information. I guess I would rather rule things out than wonder and worry when my symptoms started getting worse. The hard thing about lyme testing is that there are false negatives (and positives) but I think it’s a start and definitely worth looking in to if your not getting better.
Sorry for delay.
Expensive if you want extensive tests. Not so much if you want basics.
Price list here:
BASIC LYME PANEL**
$260.00
4090
Western Blot IgG, Western Blot IgM, Lyme IgG/IgM/IgA Screen (IFA)**
COMPLETE LYME PANEL**
$475.00
6050
Western Blot IgG, Western Blot IgM, Lyme IgG/IgM/IgA Screen (IFA), Lyme PCR- Serum,
Lyme PCR- Whole Blood
INITIAL LYME PANEL
$410.00
5010
Western Blot IgG, Western Blot IgM, Lyme PCR- Serum, Lyme PCR- Whole Blood
NEWBORN PANEL (Cord Blood)
$235.00
477
Lyme PCR- Serum (SST) and Lyme PCR- Whole Blood (EDTA)
FOLLOW-UP LYME TESTS
875
Lyme DOT BLOT and PCR Panel for B. burgdorferi
$400.00
Includes LDA – 3 samples (Test#805) and PCR on pooled samples (#465)
COMPLETE CO-INFECTIONS PANELS
5080
WESTERN REGIONAL COMPLETE CO-INFECTION PANEL**
$660.00
B. duncani IgG & IgM, Babesia FISH, HME IgG & IgM, HGA IgG & IgM, Bartonella IgG & IgM
5085
NEW WESTERN REGIONAL COMPLETE CO-INFECTION PANEL**(includes Bartonella FISH)
$780.00
B. duncani IgG & IgM, Babesia FISH, HME IgG & IgM, HGA IgG & IgM, Bartonella IgG & IgM
Bartonella FISH
5090
COMPLETE CO-INFECTION PANEL
$660.00
B. microti IgG & IgM, Babesia FISH, HME IgG & IgM, HGA IgG & IgM, Bartonella IgG & IgM
5095
NEW COMPLETE CO-INFECTION PANEL**(includes Bartonella FISH)
$780.00
B. microti IgG & IgM, Babesia FISH, HME IgG & IgM, HGA IgG & IgM, Bartonella IgG & IgM
Bartonella FISH
INITIAL REGIONAL CO-INFECTIONS PANELS
5020
MID-WEST/EASTERN REGIONAL PANEL……………………………………………………………………………
$540.00
B. microti IgG & IgM, Babesia FISH, HGA IgG & IgM, Bartonella IgG & IgM
5025
(Add Bartonella FISH** to Panel 5020)……………………………………………………………………………….
$660.00
5030
SUPPLEMENTAL MID-WEST/EASTERN PANEL……………………………………………………………………
$540.00
HME IgG & IgM, HME PCR, HGA PCR
5035
(Add Bartonella FISH** to Panel 5030)…………………………………………………………….…………………
$660.00
5040
WESTERN REGIONAL PANEL**……………………………………………………………………………………….
$540.00
B. duncani IgG & IgM, Babesia FISH, HGA IgG & IgM, Bartonella IgG & IgM
5045
(Add Bartonella FISH** to Panel 5040) …………………………………………………………….…………………
$660.00
5050
SOUTHERN REGIONAL PANEL……………………………………………………………………………………….
$540.00
B. microti IgG & IgM, Babesia FISH, HME IgG & IgM, Bartonella IgG & IgM
5055
(Add Bartonella FISH** to Panel 5050) …………………………………………………………….…………………
$660.00
BABESIA PANEL
670
COMPREHENSIVE BABESIA PANEL (B. microti)
$475.00
B. microti IgG & IgM, Babesia PCR Panel, Babesia FISH
690
WEST COAST BABESIA PANEL** (B. duncani)
$475.00
B. duncani IgG & IgM, Babesia PCR Panel, Babesia FISH
695
COMPLETE BABESIA PANEL** (B. duncani and B. microti)
$550.00
B. microti IgG & IgM, B. duncani IgG & IgM, Babesia PCR Panel, Babesia FISH
RICKETTSIA PANEL
995
COMPLETE RICKETTSIA PANEL
$290.00
Rickettsia ricketsii/typhi IgG Antibody, Rickettsia PCR Panel (Only R. rickettsii PCR will be reported for NY residents**)
Page 1 of 2
BS-F-030 REV. 08-01-12
IGeneX, Inc. Reference Laboratory
795/797 San Antonio Road ● Palo Alto ● CA 94303 ● Tel: (800) 832-3200
PRICE LIST – AUGUST 2012
IGeneX, Inc. accepts personal checks, money orders, Visa Card, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
For Canadian/ International Residents: Visa Card, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or Money Order in US Dollars. NO Personal Checks.
** Not yet available for NY Residents
INDIVIDUAL TESTS AVAILABLE
Patient Prepay/
Test # Description (Name) CPT Code Client Price
IMMUNOLOGY
275 CD57** 86357 $138.00
295 Chlamydophila pneumoniae IgG ELISA** 86631 $ 70.00
296 Chlamydophila pneumoniae IgA ELISA** 86631 $ 70.00
LYME TESTS (Borrelia burgdorferi)
230 B. burgdorferi G/M/A IFA Screen* 86618 $ 70.00
183 *Lyme Serology IgG/IgM 86618 $ 70.00
195 *Lyme Serology IgM 86618 $ 70.00
170 C6 Peptide – B. burgdorferi 86618 $108.00
- Only performed in conjunction with Western Blots.
188 Lyme Western Blot IgM 86617 $100.00
189 Lyme Western Blot IgG 86617 $100.00
488 31 kDa Epitope Test IgM** 86617 $100.00
489 31 kDa Epitope Test IgG** 86617 $100.00
Multiplex PCR (B. Burgdorferi) (includes confirmation by Southern Blot)
456 Whole Blood 87800,87801 $235.00
453 Serum 87800,87801 $235.00
450 Urine 87800,87801 $235.00
465 Urine (pooled from 3 samples) 87800,87801 $235.00
459 Cerebral Spinal Fluid 87800,87801 $265.00
462 Miscellaneous (Tissue, Breast Milk, etc.)** 87800,87801 $265.00
800 Lyme DOT BLOT Assay (LDA) for antigen ** 87449 $ 70.00
802 Lyme DOT BLOT Assay (LDA) 2-Sample ** 87449 x 2 $140.00
805 Lyme DOT BLOT Assay (LDA) 3-Sample ** 87449 x 3 $210.00
140 TICK TEST by PCR for B. burgdorferi $ 65.00
BARTONELLA TESTS
285 Bartonella henselae IgG & IgM Antibody 86611 X 2 $135.00
289 Bartonella FISH** 88365 $198.00
280 Bartonella henselae PCR – Whole Blood 87471 $207.00
290 TICK TEST by PCR for Bartonella henselae $ 65.00
BABESIOSIS TESTS
200 B. microti IgG & IgM Antibody 86317 X 2 $135.00
663 Babesia PCR Panel for B microti and B duncani 87797,87798 X 2 $207.00
640 Babesia FISH (RNA) 88365 $198.00
720 B duncani IgG & IgM Antibody ** 86317 X 2 $135.00
689 TICK TEST by PCR for B microti and B duncani $ 65.00
EHRLICHIOSIS TESTS
203 HME (Monocytic) IgG & IgM Antibody 86317 X 2 $135.00
770 HME PCR – Whole Blood 87797,87798 $207.00
206 HGA (Anaplasma phagocytophila) IgG & IgM Antibody 86317 X 2 $135.00
775 HGA (Anaplasma phagocytophila) PCR – Whole Blood 87797,87798 $207.00
148 TICK TEST by PCR for Ehrlichia $ 65.00
RICKETTSIA TESTS (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever)
965 Rickettsia rickettsii/typhi IgG Antibody 86757 X 2 $135.00
998 Rickettsia rickettsii and felis/typhi PCR Panel – Whole Blood 87797, 87798 X 2 $207.00
(Only R. rickettsii PCR will be reported for NY residents**)
975 TICK TEST by PCR for Rickettsia $ 65.00
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (Cerebral Spinal Fluid)
810 Lyme DOT BLOT Assay - CSF ** 87449 $ 85.00
459 Multiplex PCR - CSF 87800,87801 $265.00
281 Bartonella henselae PCR - CSF 87471 $265.00
986 Rickettsia rickettsii and felis/typhi PCR Panel – CSF 87797,87798 X 2 $207.00
(Only R. rickettsii PCR will be reported for NY residents**)
Page 2 of 2
BS-F-030 REV. 08-01-12
I cna send that as an easier to read pdf if anyone wants me to email them. PM me your email.
So which tests have you ordered MM? x
hi bcb,
that is wonderful you are feeling better!!! can u tell us what antibiotics you took and for how long did you take them? how long did it take for you to feel improvement? was it gradual or sudden improvement?
so you were never treated for mav, right? or if you were what meds did u take?
I was never ever treated for MAV. I got diagnosed before I made my way to Mass Eye and Ear to the Neuro-otologist (I had an appointment but cancelled it once I got the right diagnosis that made sense for me.)
I have done orals only along with about 6 months of IM Injections (Bicillin.)
For me, I was lucky in that I went from being nearly bed bound and disabled to 80% functioning in the first 3 months of treatment. Getting from 80-90% took a year. And getting back to 100% has taken the longest (I’m still treating.)
Most of my symptoms are gone, including the anxiety, nausea, aches/pains, brain fog, memory issues, and best of all…dizziness.
What’s left today are mild night sweats, mild muscle twitching, mild eye floaters, and mild tinnitus. That is it. We believe it is likely due to Babesia with some remnants of Lyme still hanging about.
I’ve done more cocktails than I can remember (not really)…but a lot of them. Doxy with Flagyl, then Biaxin, Amantadine, Flagyl, then Rifampin, Doxy, Flagyl, then Zithromax, Malarone, Tindamax, Plaquenil, then Biaxin, Bicillin, Plaquenil, Mepron, etc, etc.
Everyone’s journeys is different.
I encourage EVERYONE to try to get to root cause. For some it is likely MAV. But for many it could be misdiagnosed Lyme. If you have MAV due to Lyme…and you don’t address the lyme, you are not addressing root cause and will never get better. Ever. Covering up a symptom will not eliminate the cause of the symptom.
I suggest everyone watch the 2009 oscar nominated documentary called “Under Our Skin” about the Lyme epidemic and the huge issue people have getting diagnosed. You will see patient after patient, many like folks on this board, who were misdiagnosed for years who then go on to get well. Free on Netflix, Hulu, and on iTunes for a small fee.
thanks so much for sharing!
I, unfortunately,did make it to Mass Eye and Ear and now 6 years later I am incorrectly diagnosed with Lyme. so fortunate that you found out earlier, and got your life back.
Hi bcb,
— Begin quote from “bcb1200”
I was dizzy for 6 months and went down the MAV route … My dizziness is gone and I’m 95% back to my old self … I was never treated for MAV
— End quote
When you said you went down the MAV route, what did you do exactly? Second, you were dizzy for 6 months and then began to come good. How can you be certain that it was not a case of VN or labs (as you were diagnosed) and you compensated over time as is normal with these illnesses?
Thanks.
She spoke in depth about her treatment and symptoms in other threads here. It is interesting that you wrote that, as in the past you said that uncompensated VM/Labs is usually a misdiagnosis for MAV. You said that a short bout of Labs/VN can kick off migraine. Irregardless if you read her posts, you will see that dizziness and headaches were not her only symptoms. hopefully she will answer in more depth but she did speak of her treatment.
— Begin quote from “scott”
Hi bcb,
ent down the MAV route, what did you do exactly? Second, you were dizzy for 6 months and then began to come good. How can you be certain that it was not a case of VN or labs (as you were diagnosed) and you compensated over time as is normal with these illnesses?
Thanks.
— End quote
Hi Scott:
First, I’m a 30 somethings, well educated, professional man. (not a woman.)
Second…here is the brief history. I first noticed something was wrong in the fall of 2009, but looking back I was having mild symptoms throughout. It started (for me…each has their own journey) as a weird kind of stomach bug, only it wasn’t. And this was followed by a weird, dizzy, drunk like feeling with a lot of rocking…liek I was on a boat. It went away after 3 weeks. 3 months later, the same thing happened. It was now 2010 only this time it didn’t go away. The drunk, dizzy, tipsy, rocking feeling persisted. This time I noticed I had become very anxious which is NOT me. I went to my primary doc, who referred me to a GI doctor who did a battery of tests. All normal except for the upper endoscopy which showed gastritis. Sent me on my way.
2 weeks later, the dizziness and anxiousness worsened. My ears started to ring. I started having hyperacusis, photophobia, muscle spasms, bad eye floaters, “worms” in the periphery of my vision, sweating, tachycardia, etc. I was worried about Menier’s disease given the new, onset Tinnitus. So I got referred to an ENT.
The ENT heard my tale of woe and was good enough to suspect Lyme and other potential causes. He have me an ELISA blood test for lyme from a local lab. It was negative. I also got a full battery of vestibular tests which were more or less normal, other than my left ear being 18% weaker than my right (caloric weakness, etc)?
He shrugged me off has having “viral Labyrinthitis” and sent me on my way, saying he thought I would be better in “weeks or months.” I wasn’t. I made an appointment at Mass Eye and Ear with one of the best Neuro-otologist whose appointment was 6 months away.
I went to more doctors, while I continued to get worse…the dizziness/rockiness being my worst and most disabling symptom. I had 6 doctors tell me it was stress, that I had anxiety disorder, that I had somatoform disorder and that I should seek counseling and go on prozac. I went to a neruologist and I had a brain MRI which were mostly normal, but had some suspicious areas. This prompted a Brain SPECT which showed massive areas of inflammation and low blood flow. Very common with Lyme.
Finally found my way to this specialized MD in Massachusetts who was good at diagnosing tough cases. I thought I maybe had some sort of allergy to something, like my Shampoo. I was desperate for answers. This doctor ended up being Lyme literate (I didn’t know that) and recognized my symptoms. I said “impossible, I tested negative.” She said that doesn’t matter as the standard commercial tests miss 7 out of 10 cases, particularly the ELISA. So I got the IGENEX test. And I came back CDC positive for Lyme disease on my IgM. She thinks I had it at least a year without knowing as 2 of the bands that I had positive take at least 1 year to show up.
A few weeks later, I got the standard Quest western blot which also showed I was positive. That is a golden ticket and I was VERY lucky to get a positive on quest as Many do not.
I also tested positive for many tick borne related co-infections including Babesia Duncani (which is supposed to only be on the west coast…WRONG), Bartonella Henselae, Brucella, and Clamydia Pneumonia. All are part of LYme along with heavy metal toxicity, parasites, etc.
I was fortunate in that I made pretty good progress once starting appropriate treatment. In the first 6 months, my dizziness was completely gone and it has stayed gone. I cancelled my appointment at Mass Eye and Ear.
It has been a long journey and I’ve learned more about medicine and the politics of medicine that I ever wanted to. But I am better. I am better because I found root cause and worked to eradicate it. This cause my symptoms to be eliminated. Always treat root cause…don’t cover the symptom.
I didn’t pursue the MAV diagnosis, because there was nothing to pursue. The dizziness went away along with my other symptoms. It if was real MAV, that wouldn’t have happened.
I still treat 3 years in. My Babesia is being particularly stubborn. I still flare when I try new meds and still have 6-8 mild symptoms remaining. But I"m at 90-95% most days and live a normal life. A much better place than I was 3 years ago when my world was ending and I thought I was crazy and a month away from being unemployed and disabled.
Incidentally…John Hopkins has shown that Lyme Disease can cause Labyrinthitis as the bugs attach your inner ear.
BTW…someone found my post from before I was diagnosed (when I was at my worst…desperate, and describing exactly what I went through.) See it here along with an update 6 months into lyme treatment on how i was doing. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=1935&p=16821&hilit=bcb1200#p16821
thank you for your very detailed response. I also live in mass and go to mass eye and ear lol! I live in western ma and have been to 2 infectious disease specialists in springfield…just out of curiosity if you saw anyone in that area?
Anyway, basically both of those specialists told me that once you start seeing improvement, you keep treating until your progress plateaus and your improvement ends…has that been your experience? I’m guessing that is why you are still doing treatment now right? When did you see the first sign of solid improvement- I know you said it was 3 months before you hit 80%- but when did you start to realize “hey i think i am starting to feel better?”
Did you have any trouble with your balance/walking as part of your dizziness? What kind of precautions do u take to avoid (or do the best you can) getting lyme again?
When u were sick- were you able to keep working?
Thanks again for sharing your story I appreciate it!!!
Infectious Disease doctors are useless in my opinion. They follow the “IDSA” (i.e. Mainstream) lyme guidelines. Only an LLMD can get you well and give proper treatment.
I made rapid improvement originally. Making it from nearly disabled and bed bound to 80% and capable of working in the first 3-6 months. Getting to 90% took another year. Getting to 100% is taking longer. I’m coming up on 3 years of treatment (off an on.)
I don’t believe Plateaus are permanent. I believe Plateaus are when it’s time to find a new doc to try a new approach.
Regarding my walking…I used to bump into walls a lot. I barely worked for 3 months when I was at my worst.
I don’t go into the woods much, anymore. And we spray our yard and use tick tubes (www.ticktubes.com)
what type of specialist do u go to then if not infectious disease- like if I were looking this up on my health insurance website, what would I look up?
You can’t. You have to reach out to patient groups to find good doctors in your area.
Contact ILADS (ilads.org) for support groups or doctors. You need an ILADS trained LLMD (LYme Literate MD) The Lyme Disease Association is another good contact, as is the Flash Discussions section of Lymenet.org
BTW…most LLMD’s don’t take insurance, sadly. See my other post for details as to why.
BTW…I also live in Mass and am happy to give you names of Doctors who are good. Just PM me if you are intersted.
— Begin quote from ____
Infectious Disease doctors are useless in my opinion.
— End quote
What a load of bollocks.
How do you explain feeling unwell for weeks followed by a 3 month remission and then being hit again only to have it stick? That does not sound like the trajectory of a bacterial illness to me.
Hey Scott. When I saw Dr Owen he asked me specifically about the pattern of relapsing and remission of symptoms. He explained that another disease ‘relapsing and remitting fever’ is caused by an alternative Borrelia spirochete with a similar antigenic make up to the Lyme bacteria. He said relapsing and remission of symptoms is a diagnostic symptom of Lyme. Lots of bacterial infections relapse and remit e.g. Staph aureus in osteomyelitis of chronic lung infection…
*or
All I want to say is I love Dr S 
So glad I found him. He’s very open and quite ‘spiritual’ on occasion.
Peace out x