help with redlabs testing

[heapsreal]

Hi,
Looking over the red labs request form for xmrv, theres 3 tests that can be done.
1 xmrv culture including mvl by culture
2 mlv by culture
3 serology xmrv

I take it that test number 1 covers number 2 by the look of it, so to cover all bases i just need test number 1 and 3.
http://www.redlabs.be/documents/Request Form 08-10XMRVen.pdf

cheers!!!

 

[anne_likes_red]

That's the way I interpret it heaps.

You need XMRVab&c, but not the second test (MLVp) if you're getting the first one.

Perhaps someone who's had it done will confirm

 

[heapsreal]

thanks anne,
Anyone have any idea of courier chargers from australia or a good company??

 

[anne_likes_red]

Fedex will do it within 48 hours from here if sent on a Monday, but I haven't yet found out if they will supply suitable packaging. The lab won't supply packaging in my case. It's all a bit of a mission to try and coordinate actually (like everything!!!).
I also don't know the price for fedex yet. Also, that 48 hours is dependant on no problems with customs (in Paris I think) so you also need to find what the requirements are there.

Dr Lewis has sent blood for testing at redlabs - someone, I think on the Aus forum, mentioned that the cost was $50 to courier it.

HTH - a bit?? LOL.

 

[heapsreal]

After googling around some courier prices, Im starting to get put off. One company was $5000 and guaranteed 2-4 day delivery time and it needs to be there within 2 days. Im thinking i have alot of biomarkers of cfs and maybe talk it over with my doc about a possible theraputic trial of arvs, thats if i could afford it. Although a good friend from here suggest to look into the arv compassionate program for free arv's.

cheers!!!

 

[anne_likes_red]

One company was $5000 and guaranteed 2-4 day delivery time

???!!!!!

Seriously heaps - it would be half that much to take it there yourself, and you'd do it in 40 hours. Nice inflight film or two. No dishes to do for a couple of days...

Dr Lewis used to absorb the cost of sending blood for testing but now they have to pay the $50.00 each. Unless 100 people are going in together and sending samples together there then $5000 seems way out of the ballpark! I'll get a quote this week.
(If it's that much though I might pass out...and there wil be a delay in my reporting back here....)

 

[heapsreal]

thanks anne,
I will keep looking also.
Maybe having an IRIS type reaction to av's if u read one of my other threads on viral reactivations. Might need to just look around at other stuff, but sit on things for now and see how i pan out.

cheers!!!

 

[insearchof]

Heaps

I looked at international couriers to do something similar (not XMRV related). It turned out that I could not get it done, because I was sending biological material and I had to do it through a lab that had the correct licences etc. Was a nightmare, because Melbourne Path, Gribbles etc could not do it in the end. I found a way around it (see below**)

Some suggestions

1. Would it pay you to take a trip to Melbourne and get the test ordered through Dr Lewis - ie: just to draw blood and have it sent on your behalf to Red Labs by them? They have set up special facilities just to do this I believe.


2. **Another idea would be to get a referal to an infectious diseases specialist or physican with rooms/rights associated with a decent sized hospital and have them draw blood and arrange for the hospital pathology department to send the blood on to Red Labs. You would have to let the doctor know that the hospital path lab would have to make enquiries first with red labs (or alternatively have them call Don Lewis rooms) so they had the correct instructions on how to handle and ship the blood. Once they get this - you come back for the blood draw, and the hospital pathology department takes care of the shipping for you.


This way, it gets around expense and red tape and potential problems at the other end (Belgium authorities) of sending biological hazardous material via post and it would give you the peace of mind with regard to blood test results - knowing that the samples were handled and processed in the correct fashion.

ISO

 

[heapsreal]

My dr in Qld is in contact with dr L so it might be easier maybe to fly to melbourne and have it all organised down there. Also it depends on what they are going to do if found positive as treatments arent covered by PBS so will cost a fortune.

I might wait alittle longer as i think i maybe going through an IRIS immune reconstitution syndrome thing as the antivirals i have been on have lowered my viral load(high lymphocytes have come down) and have switched on my immune system worsening my symptoms hopefully only temporarily. My brain fog and lethargy havent been this bad for a long time, so i think i just have to ride it out abit longer. Still keen to get tested though as retroviruses are something that can make these other viruses alot worse, but money is tight at the moment and if i can get improvement with the antivirals im on now and can get back to work full time or work abit more then it will be easier to part with my money for xmrv testing.

A holiday in melbourne sounds good though.

cheers!!!!

 

[insearchof]

Hi Heaps

All sounds very positive. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that this is indeed what is taking place. If so and you improve, and you can increase your hours at work, it will make the trip to Melbourne (combined with a bit of a holiday) all the sweeter.

ISO

 

[heapsreal]

Im a rugby league fan, i have just been checking the draw to see if theres any good games on when melbourne storm play, hopefully the cowboys. U sort of want to cram some stuff in there not just fly down to see a bloody doctor but also dont want to kill myself at the same time, also give myself a week to recover from it. A few years ago we went to sydney for a long weekend with the kids and did the zoo and all the tourist stuff in 3 days, i was shattered everyday, plus had back problems with spasm etc (I was a walking chemist) and the whole next week i was a mess. so 3 days cost me 10 but the kids luvd it.

cheers!!!

 

[Sushi]

I sent blood to RedLabs from the States--which may be different--but I learned a few things. FedEx seemed to have the best services, you need an outerwrap from FedEx marked UN3373 Biological Substance, category B. . You have to fill out the airway bill and the commercial invoice very carefully, listing absolutely everything in the packages from details of the packaging material, to descriptions of the content: Human blood for medical testing. Non toxic, non-contagious. Leak-proof tube, absorbant material, bio-hazard bag, styrofoam packing, cardboard box, gel freezer pack, etc.

Those seem to be the words to get it through customs. I tracked mine and it went through customs in Paris, then straight to the lab. It took about 30 hours. I asked RedLabs to confirm receipt in good condition and they did the next day. From the western US it cost $80.

You have to have the wording just right to prevent customs problems. Unfortunately RedLabs didn't supply a kit, so I had to cannibalize one from another lab to get the packing materials, tubes etc. Docs and hospitals should have the tubes. FedEx didn't have styrofoam boxes, biohazard bags etc., but they do have the UN3373 outer pack and since it is "UN" it must be international. I know patients from other countries also used this outer pack.

Hope this helps!

Sushi

 

[omerbasket]

After googling around some courier prices, Im starting to get put off. One company was $5000 and guaranteed 2-4 day delivery time and it needs to be there within 2 days. Im thinking i have alot of biomarkers of cfs and maybe talk it over with my doc about a possible theraputic trial of arvs, thats if i could afford it. Although a good friend from here suggest to look into the arv compassionate program for free arv's.

cheers!!!

I think that you are getting it wrong. Just call FedEx in your country. I live in Israel and tried some companies and it seems that it's possible just threw FedEx. It's gonna cost me about 70$ if I ship it regularly, and 300$ if I ship it in a controlled temperatue - but I think that I will use a thermally isolated case (AKA "picnic box") or something to controll the temperature (which should be, as far as I understand it, between 4 degrees celsius and 25 degress celsius).

 

[insearchof]

There are different requirements in different countries and for different couriers as well. Fed X is so large that they probably meet and have acquired necessary regulatory approvals to carry such substances in most countries. I dont know if independent labs that draw blood here can legally hand it directly back to a patient in Australia. My experience wasn't with blood, but other bio hazard... and ran into various issues because I wanted to take it from those processing it and fed x it etc. It couldn't be done, but it could be via a hospital path who met regulatory requirements who then Fed X it overseas.

 

[ukxmrv]

In the UK we have firms of medical couriers. Used them to ship some samples once. Also people can be paid to take your sample for their airfare.

Anything like that in Australia?