NEW DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR LYME DISEASE AND TICK-BORNE RELAPSING FEVER
Dr. Nick Harris, the leader in Lyme disease and tick-borne disease testing, along with seven other people formed the company IGeneX in 1991. After countless interviews with patients who could not get proper diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Harris made it his personal mission to change the statistics of misdiagnosed and mistreated illnesses in patients who, by all practical means, had evidence and symptoms of Lyme disease but tested negative for the illnesses.
Realizing the critical need for more accurate and sensitive tests, Dr. Harris went to work and introduced cutting-edge lab testing to the scientific community with new diagnostic tools that have catapulted the ability of physicians to accurately diagnose these life-changing illnesses. Throughout his studies, he also realized that many physicians weren’t adequately trained in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. It was then he became instrumental in forming the “International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society” (ILADS). This new organization is currently at the forefront of training physicians to recognize and treat these tick-borne diseases.
Dr. Jyotsna Shah joined IGeneX in 1997 as the Director of Research and Development and shortly after realized that the testing criteria for Lyme disease were too restrictive and not nearly thorough enough. Over time, Dr.Shah’s research validated that the CDC criteria weren’t adequate enough to properly diagnose and treat patients with Lyme disease. After years of evidence and validation studies, she and her team devised their own in-house testing criteria. They found that by using a wider spectrum of both relevant proteins found throughout all the stages of infection and more strains of the organism that are found in a wider distribution in the world, more true positives have been found without sacrificing specificity.
Ticks are considered to be ectoparasites and belong to the arachnid class. They feed on the blood of mice, mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. Usually, you can find them in grassy, shady, and damp wooded areas. Once a tick bites a host it inserts its hypostome, a central piercing element with hooks into the skin to feed. Some of the tick-borne diseases are BABESIOSIS, EHRLICHIOSIS, BARTONELLOSIS, RELAPSING FEVER, LYME DISEASE, AND RICKETTSIOSIS. With over 329,000 cases reported every year, thousands go misdiagnosed and untreated and suffer unnecessarily. IGeneX has been the number one testing delivering the most comprehensive results yet.
Features regarding the IGeneX Test:
- More relevant strains of Borrelia species and other associated tick-borne pathogens are tested than at other labs.
- Other related Borrelia species like Borrelia Miyamoto I that have Lyme-like symptoms are detected.
- Experts in Lyme and associated tick-borne-related diseases are continually working in research and development with a passionate commitment to developing new and improved diagnostic tests.
- Constantly using hands-on testing and development based on years of evidence and validation studies.
Where the CDC recommends tests for Western Blot or ImmunoBlot, most labs test for the burgdorferi B31 only. Therefore, antibodies to most species of B. burgdorferi sensu lato cannot be detected. The IGeneX Lyme ImmunoBlot Test is made from recombinant proteins of several species of Borrelia burgdorferi and will detect antibodies to following B. burgdoferi sensu lato species:
- burgdorferi B31
- burgdorferi 297
- californiensis
- mayonii
- afzelii
- garinii
- spielmanii
- valaisiana
Most labs in the US and Europe only offer the B. Miyamoto I GlpQ protein serological assay. IGeneX includes more recombinant antigens from several species of the TBRF Borrelia on the ImmunoBlot thereby improving sensitivity. 50 percent of patients are missed if only the B. Miyamoto I GlpQ is used.
Contact us for more information about IGeneX Testing
Here at Renewed Vitality, when it is indicated, we use IGeneX Testing and this is something you can discuss with your practitioner at your appointment. If such testing shows that you have Lyme Disease, you will be referred to a specialist in the treatment of Lyme. At Renewed Vitality, we do not specialize in this treatment, but if the symptoms and indicators are there, we can and do test for it.
Free Phone Consultation with our New Patient Coordinator
Renewed Vitality is a place of hope. Our knowledgeable providers are experts in their field and take the time to find the underlying causes of hormonal imbalances and illness. We will work with you using proven, scientific-based technology, in a warm and compassionate environment, to help you restore your health so that you can live a life of vitality and wellness.
Please contact our New Patient Coordinator for your Free Phone Consultation. She can answer any questions or concerns that you may have and give you additional information about our providers, our protocols and fees, what is covered by insurance and what is not, and any other details you may need. She can also get you booked for your first appointments, if you decide we are a good fit for you. There are no obligations to book an appointment.
Please call 214-740-4703 to learn more, or complete the form below, and we will contact you. We would love to hear from you!