Be aware of both redlabs and vipdx testing!!!
Hello,
I was just wondering what peoples experience of using Red Labs in Belgium for XMRV testing has been?
I have tried ringing this week to ask about the new serology testing that they're offering but the person I spoke to seemed very unsure of what I needed to do for the test. He wasn't sure if it should be centrifuged and he said it would "probably" be ok if the sample reached them within 48 hours but he wasn't positive.
I know that Biolabs in the UK and VPDX in the US are extremely strict about samples getting to the US within 24 hours of being taken and they do require that blood is centrifuged.
Does anyone know how the sample should be prepared for the serology test in RED Labs and if there is a definite time limit that should be kept in mind?
It's alot of money and heart ache to receive a false negative just because I didn't properly get the practical aspects of the test right so I'm nervous about doing anything wrong.
Thanks for reading.:Retro smile:
I got tested in December, I'm still waiting for the results. I recently learned that antibiotics and antivirals should not be taken in order to avoid negative results. I was on antibiotics about ten days before taking the test. I asked the redlabs for an explanation and they dismissed me, didn't want to know anything to do with it. Told me to contact Reno. I heard some patients in Europe complaining about the same situation.
Here's the message I sent to VipDX concerning this problem :
"Hello,
Im contacting you on behalf of Mr Hernndez from Redlabs in Belgium since he was unable to answer my questions concerning the XMRV tests I took last December.
Indeed, I took both the XMRV PCR and serology tests in December at the Redlabs. I was in contact with Dr Frmont and MR Hernandez. They told me that there wasnt any particular requirement (in terms of medication) for this test at the time. I paid 559 euros for both tests only to learn now that I shouldnt have taken antibiotics since according to the following Study in Norway:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/50525150/P...ian-XMRV-Study antibiotics and antivirals might alter the results by increasing the risk of getting false negatives
I asked the Redlabs for compensation since I WAS NOT TOLD about this problem BEFORE TAKING THE TEST and Mr Hernandez simply dismissed me by telling me to contact you.
I live in France and I struggled to make it to Brussels on that day and I struggled to pay for such HUGE fees only to learn that my results may come out negative now. By the way I took the test on December 22nd and Im STILL WAITING FOR THE RESULTS. Mr Hernandez told me that the PCR would take only 10 weeks and that this test is performed at the Redlabs Im still waiting for the results. In spite of the fact that this test is performed at the Redlabs Mr Hernandez was unable to answer my questions and dismissed me by telling me to contact you for a test THEY PERFORMED in Belgium.
I found this inadmissible! Redlabs treating patients in this way, they are only worried about getting money from sick and poor people and they do not take any responsibility on the tests they perform or how they perform them either.
I wait for some clarifications on this subject. Im not the only patient in this situation"
And here's the answer I got from the "Marketing and Client relations Director" (no formality phrases included in her answer):
We have nothing to do with the way business is run in RED Laboratories Belgium. We are a separate business in the USA.
In our lab in the USA, patients have been waiting up to five months for results due to an enormous backlog. For the culture, the cells must grow in culture for 60 days or more. In order to detect virus, it has to grow in cells when stimulated. Because this is a low copy and slow growing virus with high and low cycles, it is not always easy to detect. The serology test typically takes less time to report out. However, in our lab, we usually wait until both tests are completed before we report out the results.
As far as taking medications, it would stand to reason that if you are being tested for a virus, you would want to be off anti-viral medication. It is also prudent to be off antibiotics as well to be sure results are not skewed especially for culture and antibody (serology) testing.
Your payment issues are to be discussed with RED Laboratories Belgium as we did not collect any money from you and we cannot reimburse you for what we did not receive.
Marguerite Ross, Director
Marketing & Client Relations
775-351-1890
775-682-8281 Fax
YES THEY, VpDx DID COLLECT SOME MONEY since the SEROLOGY TEST is not performed by the RedLabas (only the PCR TESTING is performed in Belgium), the SEROLOGY TEST IS STILL PERFORMED IN RENO!!!
Concerning the answers I got from the Redlabs (they are all in French) and they simply say "we have nothing to do with this, go and ask VipDx in Reno".
I hope this answers your question. By the way, If anyone had the same problems here I"ll be more than willing to start an action against the RedLabs to start with.
Here's my email;
alex.maclachlan@free.fr
