Tick Awareness Canada Association TACA
TESTING
Standard Canadian Lyme Testing Problems
As of the beginning of March 2016, there is still a two tiered testing system in place in North America. The recommendation of the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is that the primary test be given. This test is called the ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunoassay) - it is a simple, inexpensive test for detection of antibodies created as a response to an infection with Borrelia Burgdorferi.
The main problem with the ELISA test is that it is often wrong as it is right (see studies in picture) The CDC and others openly admit that the test is substandard. The problem becomes when doctors are not aware of the tests failings and don’t know symptomology for a clinical diagnosis, they don't continue on to the second tier and use the Western Blot test.
Laboratory evaluation of the performance of the Zeus PEPC10/Vls EEIA to detect antibodies to members of the European genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
Presented by Dr. Michael Drebot
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), National Microbiology Laboratory, Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, Winnipeg, MB
Multidisciplinary Meeting on Lyme disease Ottawa, ON May 10, 2019
Testing Conclusions
•pepC10 showed much higher sensitivity than C6 EIA assay on patient samples suspected of European LD but specificity was poor in both assays
•Both assays showed higher sensitivity and specificity on the European proficiency samples (well-characterized samples)
•The discrepant sensitivity and specificity could be due to different sample matrix
•Patient samples may have contained other antibodies and rheumatoid factors that could lead to lower specificity
Unfortunately, clinical data was not available to determine actual clinical sensitivity and specificity of the pepC10 or C6 EIAs
•It is important to note that serological testing should be used in conjunction with data on clinical presentation and exposure history (especially since algorithm and diagnostic criteria are different for European LD)
•Based on this evaluation, pepC10 could be used to screen patients with possible exposure to European LD (as is currently done with the C6 EIA)
Alternative Testing
Please be advised that none of the labs/tests listed below are acknowledged by the MAJORITY of Canadian physicians, (PHAC) Public Health of Canada considers these test substandard and only recognizes its own standard testing.
All testing listed below is not covered by provincial health insurance and must be paid for out of your own pocket.
Galaxy Diagnostics
PCR testing methods, pathogens and the tests that we offer:
Bartonella ,Borrelia , Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia/Theileria, Rickettsia
https://www.galaxydx.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/hhtestpricingformMay2019.pdf
IGeneX
Tests for blood or urine, as well as cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), tissue, placenta, breast milk, etc.
Tests for; Babesia , Bartonella , Ehrlichia (HME) or Anaplasma (HGA), TBRF Borrelia, B. burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsiosis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, CD57
https://igenex.com/how-it-works/
Ceres Nanosciences
Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test (Nanotrap® LA Test)
A REVOLUTIONARY TOOL FOR LYME DISEASE DIAGNOSIS
Ceres' Nanotrap® LA Test uses the Nanotrap® technology to concentrate Lyme antigens from urine and then detect those antigens using an ELISA or Western Blot assay.
https://www.ceresnano.com/nanotrap-lyme-test
Fry Labs
TEST LIST AND DESCRIPTIONS
Fluorescent Fungal And DNA Stains, Fluorescent DNA Stain, Immunofluorescence assay
SEROLOGY TESTS IgG And IgM tests for: Babesia Microti Ehrlichia Chaffeensis, Anaplasma Phagocytophilum, Bartonella Henselae / Quintana, Rickettsia Rickettsii / Typhi, Q-Fever (Coxiella Burnetii), Toxoplasma Gondii, Lyme Line Blot.
MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS Pan-Eukaryotic DNA and Pan-Bacterial DNA Sequencing
https://frylabs.com/services/test-list-and-descriptions/
Canadian Requisition form
https://frylabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/requisition_international.pdf
ArminLabs
performs laboratory tests for chronic infections originating from tick-borne diseases.
Tests offered: EliSpot, CD57+, SeraSpot, IFA and ELISA, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Tick Test
Innatoss Laboratories
C6 test, ELISA, and immunoblot, Q-detect ™ is the only test that can detect Q fever based on the cellular response in the blood, co-infections covered in Lyme test Innatoss test, Bartonella henselae, Anaplasma phagcytophilum, Babesia, Rickettsia conorii, typhi, rickettsia, Coxiella burnetii