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HOW TO GET AN ACCURATE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) BLOOD TEST for MYCOPLASMAL and OTHER INFECTIONS© August 2003 Sean A. Dudley & Leslee M. Dudley * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mycoplasmal infections are found in patients with: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Gulf War Illness, Lyme Disease, AIDS, Autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Scleroderma, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Leukemia and other diseases.
NAMES OF TESTS TO ORDER
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME & FIBROMYALGIA __________________________________________ The top three pathogens that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Mycoplasma Registry patients test positive for on PCR blood tests: *Mycoplasma fermentans, HHV-6a and Chlamydia pneumoniae
Others pathogens found individually or in combination with the other infections are: *Mycoplasma fermentans incognitus Mycoplasma fermentans strains Mycoplasma pneumoniae Mycoplasma hominis Mycoplasma genitalium Mycoplasma penetrans Ureaplasma urealyticum (Reactivated Viruses: Epstein Bar Virus, Cytomegalovirus, HHV6a)
PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS ___________________________ The Gulf War Mycoplasma Study showed that Gulf War veterans tested positive for mycoplasmas were usually positive for *Mycoplasma fermentans. Mycoplasma genitalium was also found as well as a very small percentage for Mycoplasma pneumoniae. We recommend that all Gulf War veterans get tested for uranium poisoning and experimental vaccine adjuvents such as squalene antibodies.
AIDS ASSOCIATED MYCOPLASMAS ______________________________ Mycoplasma penetrans Mycoplasma fermentans incognitus Mycoplasma fermentans strains Mycoplasma pirum Ureaplasma urealyticum Mycoplasma hominis Mycoplasma genitalium Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Viruses: HIV, HHV6a, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, enterovirus)
CHRONIC LYME DISEASE PATIENTS ________________________________ If bitten by ticks or even fleas and develop symptoms of Lyme Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Autoimmune Diseases get tested for: Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), *Mycoplasma fermentans, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Babesia WA-1, Relapsing Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Hepatitis C, Bartonella henselae cat scratch fever), Bartonella quintana(trench fever), Tularemia (rabbit fever), Anaplasmas, Viral meningitis.
TYPES OF MYCOPLASMA TESTS 1. MOST ACCURATE of the PCR blood tests is the original, standard individual test for a specific species. It has an accuracy rate of 95%.
2. "Multiplex" ("3 in 1" or "4 in 1") multi-species Mycoplasma PCR blood tests are less expensive but their accuracy has not yet been established.
3. Antibody Test - least accurate of the blood tests, it is not as accurate as PCR. People generally only make antibodies to Mycoplasma fermentans incognitus when they are near death. However, people make antibodies to the other mycoplasma species more readily.
4. Culture - Mycoplasmas are rarely successfully cultured, as they require specialized culture mediums and weeks of careful laboratory work.
RECOMMENDATIONS * Do not perform the General (or Family) Mycoplasma species screening test. It is not as accurate as hoped. This test should never be used by physicians as a screening test for mycoplasmal infections in patients.
* Have the blood drawn at the testing lab. If that is impractical, the second best solution is to have the blood delivered to the lab within 24 hours. If a sample of blood containing mycoplasmas is left at room temperature, within 24 hours half the mycoplasmas are dead and within 72 hours all are dead. Once dead, they disintegrate and the specific genetic sequences needed to be found for PCR amplification will have vanished.
* Have the blood sample drawn later in the day if you are shipping overnight. This shortens the hours before the sample is processed. Also, have the blood drawn early in the week, rather than on a Friday, so that the sample arrives on a day when the lab is open, rather than sitting unprocessed over the weekend.
* Ship blood samples with blue ice, keeping the sample at a refrigerated temperature. Place some packing material between the blood sample and the blue ice to prevent the blood sample from touching the blue ice. This avoids freezing of the blood sample, which causes coagulation, ruining the sample for testing.
* Do not take any antibiotics at least one month or more before a PCR blood test. The antibiotics will remove most of the infection from the blood, preventing an accurate result. This restriction also applies to natural products that kill mycoplasmas, such as colloidal silver, flax seed oil and fish oils.
* Do not take vitamins, herbs or supplements that boost the immune system and might reduce the mycoplasma count. Examples would be Vitamin C, IP6, immune boosters, garlic, transfer factor, olive leaf extract, etc. Unfortunately, no research exists to guide patients on how long they should avoid these products before drawing blood.
* The best time to have blood drawn is when the patient is symptomatic. Mycoplasmas can become dormant from time to time, so if a patient is feeling well it might not be the best time to test.
* If patients receive a negative result, but are still symptomatic, they should be retested. Review our suggestions for how and when to be tested to see if they were followed. Discuss the merits of retesting with your physician.
* Patients should be tested before beginning antibiotic treatment. However, some patients start antibiotics before being tested as an experiment to see if they will show improvement. Then, to avoid a relapse, they refuse to stop using antibiotics before taking a PCR test. Unfortunately, once they start antibiotics, they risk getting a false PCR result. Even if the patient stops taking antibiotics for one to several months, there is no guarantee that the PCR test will then find mycoplasmas in their blood stream. This leaves patients unsure of their infection(s) and they may not be taking the most effective antibiotic(s). Also, without a positive test result, physicians are reluctant to prescribe long term antibiotic treatment.
* For patients already on antibiotics, there may be an alternative to PCR; Antibody Tests. Though traditional antibody tests are generally not as accurate as PCR, detection may be possible if a patient has developed antibodies to mycoplasmas. Test accuracy increases the longer the patient has been on antibiotics.
LIST OF LABORATORIES PCR & antibody blood tests for Mycoplasma, Chlamydia & HHV-6a infections
UNITED STATES _______________________________
NEW JERSEY: • Medical Diagnostic Laboratories 133 Gaither Drive, Suite C, Mt. Laurel, NEW JERSEY 08054 Toll-free: (877) 269-0090 Tel: (609) 608-1696 Fax: (609) 608-1667 Email: mailto:SALES@MDLAB.COM Website: http://www.mdlab.com Mycoplasma tests: http://www.mdlab.com/fees&servs/serv-mycoplasma.html
• Quest Diagnostics Incorporated One Malcolm Ave. Teterboro, NEW JERSEY 07608 Toll free (800) 222-0446 Tel.: (201)393-5000 Fax: (201) 462-4715 Website: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/index.html Mycoplasma test menu: http://cas2.questdiagnostics.com/scripts/dos.wls?wlapp=DOS Contact Customer Service: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/hcp/contactus/hcp_contact_cust_srv.html
MARYLAND: • The Arthritis Research Center [Offers PCR and antibody mycoplasma tests] 504 E. Diamond Avenue Suite I Gaithersburg, MARYLAND 20877 Tel: (301) 216-1231 Fax: (301) 216-0302
NORTH CAROLINA • Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LH) 358 S. Main St., Burlington NORTH CAROLINA 27215 Phone: 336-584-5171 Fax: 336-436-1205 Website: http://www.labcorp.com/ Mycoplasma tests: http://www.labcorp.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=mycoplasma&ps=10
VIRGINIA: • Focus Technologies, Inc.(Corporate Office) 13665 Dulles technology Drive, Suite 200 Herndon, VIRGINIA 20171 USA Tel: (703)480-2500 Fax: (703)480-2670 Website: http://www.focusanswers.com Mycoplasma tests: http://www.immuno-sci-lab.com/table_66_2000.htm
WISCONSIN: • Prodesse W229 N1870 Westwood Drive Waukesha, WISCONSIN 53186 Tel: (262)446-0700 Toll free: (888) 589-6974 Fax: (262) 446-0600 Email: custsvc@prodesse.com Website: http://www.prodesse.com http://www.prodesse.com/reflab.html
CALIFORNIA: • Immunosciences Lab., Inc. [Offers PCR and antibody mycoplasma tests] 8693 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200 Beverly Hills, CALIFORNIA 90211 Toll-free: (800) 950-4686 Tel: (310) 657-1077 Fax: (310) 657-1053 Email: mailto:immunsci@ix.netcom.com Website: http://www.immuno-sci-lab.com Mycoplasma tests: http://www.immuno-sci-lab.com/2000_cat_toc3.htm#M
• Specialty Laboratories, Inc. 2211 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, CALIFORNIA 90404-3900 Toll-free: (800) 421-4449 Tel: (310) 828-6543 Fax: (310) 586-7275 Email: mailto:specialty@specialtylabs.com Website: http://www.specialtylabs.com/main.html Mycoplasma tests: http://www.specialtylabs.com/tests/display.asp?catID=&keyword=mycoplasma& searchtype=tests
• Focus Technologies, Inc., (Cypress Laboratory) 5785 Corporate Avenue Cypress, CALIFORNIA 90630 Tel: (714) 220-1900 Toll Free (800) 445-0185 Fax: (714) 220-9213 Website: http://www.focusanswers.com Mycoplasma tests: http://www.focusanswers.com/default.asp?page=rLab&subPageOn=0&subPage=ini t&sub2Page=init
• IGeneX Inc. (soon to offer mycoplasma PCR testing) 797 San Antonio Road Palo Alto, CALIFORNIA 94303 Toll-free: (800) 832-3200 Tel: (650) 424-1191 Fax: (650) 424-1196 Email: mailto:igenex@igenex.com Website: http://www.igenex.com
BELGIUM ______________________________ • R.E.D. LABORATORIES Pontbeek 61 B-1731 Zellik Belgium Tel: 32-2-481-5310 Fax: 32-2-481-5311 Email: mailto:info@redlabs.com Website: http://www.redlabs.com [Additional test for: RNAP (RNase L Test in PBMC's) Quantitative Measurement of RNase L Proteins: The Confirmatory Test to Aid in the Diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome]
NETHERLANDS _______________________________ • Pro Health Laboratorium Schoutlaan 4a 6002 EA Weert The Netherlands Tel: (31)(0)495 545000 Fax: (31)(0)495 550722 E-mail: mailto:lab@prohealth.nl
ENGLAND _______________________________ • Nutri-Link Ltd. 8A Powderham Road Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 1EU England Tel: +44-(0)-16-26-205417 Fax: +44-(0)-16-26-205418 [U.K. representative of Immunosciences Lab.,Inc. sends blood to Beverly Hills, CA USA]
• Micropathology Ltd. University of Warwick Science Park Barclays Venture Centre Sir William Lyons Road Coventry CV4 7EZ, United Kingdom Tel: +44-(0)-24-76-323222 Fax: +44-(0)-24-76-323333 Email: info@micropathology.com Website: http://www.micropathology.com
AUSTRALIA _______________________________ • Australian Biologics 6th Floor Fayworth House 383 Pitt Street Sydney, Australia Tel: (02) 9283 0807
LABORATORIES THAT OFFER OTHER USEFUL TESTS
Hypercoagulation Tests _______________________________ • HEMEX LABORATORY 2505 West Beryl Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85021-1461 Toll-free: (800) 999-CLOT (2568) Tel: (602) 997-9161 Fax: (602) 997-1406 Email: mailto:clients@hemex.com Website: http://www.hemex.com
Lyme Disease Tests _______________________________ • IGeneX Inc. 797 San Antonio Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 Toll-free: (800) 832-3200 Tel: (650) 424-1191 Fax: (650) 424-1196 Email: mailto:igenex@igenex.com Website: http://www.igenex.com
• Medical Diagnostic Laboratories 133 Gaither Drive, Suite C Mt. Laurel, NEW JERSEY 08054 Toll-free: (877) 269-0090 Tel: (609) 608-1696 Fax: (609) 608-1667 Email: mailto:SALES@MDLAB.COM Website: http://www.mdlab.com
• Bowen Research and Training Institute, Inc P.O. Box 627 Palm Harbor, Florida 34682 Tel: (727) 937-9077 Fax: (727) 942-9687 Website: http://www.bowen.org/
HHV-6a Virus Tests _______________________________ • ViraCor 1210 NE Windsor Drive Lee's Summit, MO 64086 Toll-free: (800) 305-5198 Fax: (816) 347-0143 Email: mailto:info@ViraCor.com Website: http://www.viracor.com
Candidiasis Tests _______________________________ • AAL Reference Laboratories, Inc. 1715 E. Wilshire # 715 Santa Ana, CA 92705 Toll Free: (800) 522-26 Tel: (714) 972-9979 Fax: (714) 543-2034 Email: mailto:inquire@aalrl.com Website: http://www.antibodyassay.com
Rickettsia Tests _______________________________ • Laboratory of Dr. Cecil Jadin Postnet Suite 182 Private Bag X3 Northriding, 2162 Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: + 27 11 460 1670 from 06.30am - 07.00am and from 06.30pm - 07.00pm (local time) Fax: + 27 11 794 3370
Ciguatoxins Test _______________________________ • Dr. Yoshitsugi Hokama Department of Pathology University of Hawaii at Manoa, Biomedical Science Room D-105 1960 East-West Road Honolulu, HI 96822 Tel: (808)956-5464 messages may be left (808)956-8682 direct line to the laboratory Physicians may also e-mail Dr. Hokama at:yoshitsu@hawaii.edu
Staphylococcus _______________________________ • Esoterix Infectious Disease Center 7540 Louis Pasteur Dr # 202 San Antonio, Texas 78229 (210) 614-7350 (201) 692-1411 (800) 299-7350 (800) 661-4118 toll free (210) 614-7350 phone (210) 614-7355 fax (800) 383-0980 Client Services Website: http://www.exoterix.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * © August 2003 Sean A.& Leslee M. Dudley,Mycoplasma Registry for Gulf War Illness & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Content of Mycoplasma Registry Reports, brochures, booklets and forms is the intellectual property of Mycoplasma Registry. Any copying, republication or redistribution of the content of Mycoplasma Registry Reports, brochures, booklets and forms is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Mycoplasma Registry.
Printed versions of the brochure "How to Get an Accurate PCR Blood Test for Mycoplasmal & Other Infections"©, with an updated list of laboratories, are available upon request. We are an unincorporated nonprofit association, California Reg. No. 6679. To cover our expenses and to continue our work and research, donations would be greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to: Mycoplasma Registry.
MYCOPLASMA REGISTRY - Sean & Leslee Dudley 303 47th Street, J10, San Diego, California 92102-5961 Tel/Fax: (619) 266-1116/ Email: mycoreg@juno.com Mycoplasma Registry e-mail announcement list: mailto:MycoplasmaRegistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Patient e-mail discussion group: mailto:cfs_mycoplasma-subscribe@yahoogroups.com(yahoogroups.com) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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