Igenex Full Results came in - No Help from them (borderline scam?)

[Matthewa100]

Dear All,

I know these threads are populated with IGeneX posts but having just done my results with them I think this is a bit of a scam tbh. They said I 'might' have Lyme lol - You couldn't make it up really.

When I called them actually give direct answers to the results they wouldn't give me them. They kept fobbing me off to third party Lyme sites or send me irrelevant PDF's. The bottom line is they charge $1500 for a couple of blood tests but then cannot give you a definitive answer. I have had blood tests before and they were always clear and transparent.

I live in Asia so no access to lyme doctors here. Perhaps someone knowledgeable hear can do the job the jokers at IGeneX could not.

Western BlotIgM

IGX: Indeterminate
CDC :Negative

Other bands negative
Band 31: +
Band 41: ++

Western BlotIgG

IGX: Positive
CDC : Negative


Other bands negative
Band 41: ++
Band 83-93: +

Borreliosis - All Negative

Bartonelliosis - All Negative

Thanks in advance,

Matthew

 

[Valentijn]

Testing services never interpret their results, beyond giving normal ranges. A doctor is needed for that. Or you can look it up yourself online.

 

[adreno]

No test can give you a definite Lyme diagnosis. It is a matter of considerable debate when a western blot is to be considered positive. It is all amount probabilities.

 

[Matthewa100]

So basically it can be either way. What a pointless waste of money on my part.

 

[Valentijn]

So basically it can be either way. What a pointless waste of money on my part.

It's used in combination with clinical history. A doctor would assess your symptoms and other lab results to make a diagnosis.

 

[Matthewa100]

this is sounding like a total scam. So a 'lyme specialist' doctor will make an analysis of meaningless test results go through your symptoms and give you a 'diagnosis....'

 

[Valentijn]

this is sounding like a total scam. So a 'lyme specialist' doctor will make an analysis of meaningless test results go through your symptoms and give you a 'diagnosis....'

Not really. Some symptoms are fairly specific to Lyme. And the lab results which show an ongoing infection (if not the cause) are fairly mainstream.

 

[Matthewa100]

You sound like an ideal recruit for IgenX! Answers without any solution!

 

[duncan]

So a 'lyme specialist' doctor will make an analysis of meaningless test results go through your symptoms and give you a 'diagnosis....'

OR any infectious disease doctor, or any GP for that matter.

Lyme testing issues are not peculiar to Igenex. Pick any lab that tests for Bb and interpretive issues can arise.

Such is the nature of Lyme diagnostics.

 

[Matthewa100]

Do you think that Lyme could actually be The Mindbody Syndrome (TMS)

https://www.hypnosisalliance.com/articles/Chronic Pain And Lyme Disease - John Sarno.pdf

This would fit in nicely with the fact it is impossible to test properly as it could be psychosomatic.

 

[duncan]

Bb antibodies are not psychosomatic.

No one said it is impossible to test properly.

You may wish to do some basic research. Or not.

 

[Valentijn]

This would fit in nicely with the fact it is impossible to test properly as it could be psychosomatic.

No, not at all. Even if some cases of Lyme (or anything else) are misdiagnosed, it doesn't suddenly mean that every potential physical cause for symptoms has been ruled out. It simply means that the cause hasn't been found yet.

Psychosomatic disorders remain completely hypothetical. And thus far a great many diseases first thought to be psychosomatic have been proven to be biological. So odds are that any particular symptom, especially a chronic one, is not psychosomatic.

 

[Sushi]

this is sounding like a total scam. So a 'lyme specialist' doctor will make an analysis of meaningless test results go through your symptoms and give you a 'diagnosis....'

The "interpretation" is computer generated. It is expected that you will present the testing results to a doctor who will interpret them in light of your history and symptoms. As @Valentijn said, labs don't give diagnoses--just data.

 

[sarah darwins]

The IGeneX website is pretty explicit:

These tests are not a diagnosis. Patients should be examined by a physician. Physicians will use the diagnostics tests from IGeneX along with the patient’s related symptoms and medical history to find out whether a patient has a tick-borne disease.

http://www.igenex.com/Website/testing/interpretations/

 

[Dufresne]

@Matthewa100, well I hope you don't just give up on your search, or on Lyme as a possibility. I know Dr Horowitz calls it Lyme Bingo. Basically if you have a few of the common symptoms and any of your Igenex bands hit, he goes on to treat.

Welcome to the forum. I hope you stick around.

 

[Matthewa100]

Valentijn - Actually its quite the opposite. You realize conditions like 'lyme' and 'fibro' did not 'exist' until 30 years ago.

It just seems to be a bit of a racket - charge and obscene amount for a couple of blotter tests - then can only be evaluated by a 'specialist' who charges an onscene amount to review the 'results' before passing a non specific verdict.

Sounds like a good business!

 

[IreneF]

Igenex has a reputation for false positives.

 

[Matthewa100]

IreneF - I am not surprised by this statement.

 

[Valentijn]

Actually its quite the opposite. You realize conditions like 'lyme' and 'fibro' did not 'exist' until 30 years ago.

The Lyme bacteria was discovered 110 years ago, but it certainly existed long before that - probably for thousands of years. The difference would be that now accurately diagnosed patients know that an infection is causing their symptoms. The label for Fibromyalgia may be relatively new, but descriptions of the symptoms go back a couple hundred years.

Do you think MS doesn't exist because it wasn't detectable in brain scans until 40 years ago? Or do you think it was nonexistent prior to that point, but then suddenly became real when it could be verified? ME is already similarly verifiable, with the right tests, and it would be just as much of a real disease even if it weren't.

 

[sarah darwins]

Valentijn - Actually its quite the opposite. You realize conditions like 'lyme' and 'fibro' did not 'exist' until 30 years ago.

It just seems to be a bit of a racket - charge and obscene amount for a couple of blotter tests - then can only be evaluated by a 'specialist' who charges an onscene amount to review the 'results' before passing a non specific verdict.

Sounds like a good business!

I'm a bit puzzled about why you would apparently spend $1,500 on a test when you seem so convinced that the test is useless and Lyme disease is some sort of invention.