Update on new Borrelia culture lab test
The newly released blood culture test for Lyme is now available in all states except New York and Florida. We are posting this press release from Advanced Laboratory Services to answer many of the questions being asked in the Lyme community about this test.
Press release from Advanced Laboratory Services:
 BORRELIA CULTURE UPDATE- November 4th, 2011
Latest News From Advanced Laboratory Services
Regarding Our Revolutionary New Test
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BORRELIA BLOOD CULTURE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR CLINICIANS!
Advanced Laboratory Services is pleased to announce that the Borrelia Blood Culture is now available for clinical use in 48 states so far. We have already been accepting samples and reporting results!
Please note:
• It is NOT yet available in the states of Florida and New York- currently applications for these states have been filed and are pending.
• Unfortunately, international samples (including from Canada and Mexico) cannot yet be accepted until logistical issues are addressed and solved, but we are working on this.
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WHY DO A CULTURE?
A culture is a direct test. It will tell you whether the infection is present, and is more accurate than a serology (ELISA and Western Blot), which is not a direct test and at best can only indicate prior exposure. For example, in diagnosing a urinary tract infection, do you test the blood for antibodies to E. coli, or do you culture the urine? The obvious answer also applies to diagnosing infection due to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Cultures are more useful and give more information.
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WHO MAY ORDER THIS TEST?
Based on the laws of Pennsylvania where we are located, it must be ordered by a medical practitioner defined by them as an MD, DO, CRNP, PA-C, and Certified Nurse Midwife. If you are an ND, and even if you may order tests in the state in which you practice, you still will need to have the test ordered by the type of practitioner on Pennsylvania’s approved list. Note that it also cannot be ordered directly by the patient.
The practitioner must request a blood drawing kit from Advanced Labs, and once the specimen is drawn, it must be received by us within 24 hours. Please refer to the collection guidelines, below.
NEW COLLECTION KITS ARE READY!
As the colder weather will soon be affecting much of the country, we have modified our collection kits to include an insulated return mailer to prevent the blood from freezing. If you do not have these kits (they have a molded rigid foam insert in the return box), you should call us to have them sent to you.
WHAT ABOUT CLINICAL RESEARCH?
It is the position of the lab that our function is to provide these incredibly useful tests, and to refine them continually over time. We are aware that the availability of this testing method opens up new avenues of clinical research that may help answer the many remaining questions that clinicians and patients face every day. If a well designed and powered study were to be set up, then the lab would be most cooperative in assisting as it is able.
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ADVANCED LABS TO PUBLISH A NEWSLETTER!
With the news coming from our lab so quickly, and with the many questions from you that we receive, it has been decided to publish a newsletter on a regular basis. It will be sent to all who are on our mailing list. So, to stay abreast of the latest happenings, be sure to sign up and also include your contact info with all your correspondence.
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BLOOD COLLECTION GUIDELINES
Preliminary studies have resulted in the following sample collection guidelines, in order to ensure the highest culture yield:
• Patients should be antibiotic-free for at least 4 weeks prior to collection.
• Have symptoms and/or signs of active disease at the time of blood draw
• Blood must reach the lab within 24 hours of being drawn!!! Be sure to send the specimen out the same day it is collected, and use the FedEx overnight mailers we provide in the kits.
• Do not send any samples on Friday or Saturday as the lab is not open on weekends!
• It is suggested that the blood draw be scheduled for the afternoons if possible because that is when spirochetemia is more likely. However, be sure that FedEx will do an afternoon pickup for you.
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CONTACT US!
As always, we appreciate your feedback and ideas. It is this type collaborative effort that will ensure that we continue to develop and deliver what is needed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thank you!
Advanced Laboratory Services
501 Elmwood Avenue, Sharon Hill, PA 19079
Phone: (855) 238-4949 Fax: (855) 238-4946
questions@advanced-lab.com
www.advanced-lab.com
This is very good news. I live in Florida, but hopefully this test will be available to us soon. I would like to me on your newsletter list. Thanks.
What a marvelous accomplishment. Maybe our days in the dark are over!!!
Thank you and please add me to the mailing list for the news letter.
John & Vicky, it's easy to get on our newsletter list. Go to our homepage at https://www.lymedisease.org and put your e-mail address in the box. That's all there is to it.
Great news! This should help in the numbers being submitted to CDC on infection rates.
If anyone is interested I have a free Lyme Resource computer cd available. See my website.
Scott Adams
http://www.lyme-resource.com
Will this test confirm chronic Lyme ? Is one blood simple enough to grow the Bacteria? Is there a potential of false negative tests ? Where can I access the clinical research study?
Why are Canadian samples not being accepted ? It can be sent and received within 24 hours.
Can a Canadian physically go to an approved U.S. State and have the blood draw and test performed ?
Wonderful news! I will send this to all my friends and hope that the AMA, CDC, insurance companies and doctors will cooperate-finally-and concentrate on healing us instead of ignoring us,. telling us we are crazy, giving us multitudes of pills which do nothing.
How do you do this test? Do you look at a smear also by Darkfield? I want to know technical info as I am a Med Tech and how much does it cost? Thanks, Darlene Kohler
The news of a better test is a huge accomplishment and makes me feel like there are people out there trying to help. this is another push towards the government that lyme disease does exist and the cdc needs to change the protocals for the doctors
HOPE!
My LLMD and I have yet to find a treatment that works which MediCal will pay for. I am so tired of getting prescription denials. I have the clinical diagnoses, but how can I get an antibody confirmation from a worthless ELISA test when I am completely immuno-suppressed?
I would like to know, however, if the culturing is available for cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF). Last year, I received relief from the horrible headache with a spinal tap. Unfortunately, the headache has returned. If I were able to get another spinal tap, I would think that CSF might prove to be a more definitive medium.
GOD BLESS the developers of this test; providing it really does work, and is both affordable and available to someone like me. The possibility makes me smile! 🙂 🙂 🙂