Quest & Heptimax test

[dperry10]

Well had my visit with Gastro, and he was not too concerned about HGB as long as I am getting the shots again.  He says after next lab if still dropping, he will intervene and get more, but says it may take a few wks for the up'd dose to show anything.    I asked for the Heptimax test,for my PCR,  but doc had no idea what I was talking about. the one he ordered goes down to 50.  So not sure if it was the one that JmJm tells us to get,  I even asked Quest when I was there if that was the Heptimax test..   she says I have no idea.    So.......  Then when I was leaving told me it only takes up to 48 hours to get results back on this test.  I thought it took up to 2 wks for that one ???

[Pdilly]

well I got out my PCR from Late December and this is all it says.  I can't find anything that give <50  or anything.
Reference Range:  None Detected
Linear Range  10- 20,000,000

I wonder why my Lab-One/Quest report does not say the same thing?t

[dperry10]

Ok, I will keep that in mind, as I wait ever so impatiently.    I hate waiting, and to top it all off, there was a really bad accident on the way to the lab, and I was almost in the middle of a 11 car pile up.. .. Cops made me drive my mercedes over the median.  I gave him a look like.. Oh no you didn't ... when he pointed me out of the way, since I did not get hit.. LOL.. there were cars everywhere and more coming.   1 Person died.. but it started with a dump truck and 2 cars, and the truck over turned and people went everywhere, trying to avoid, and caused more accidents..   I happened to be in far left lane just far enough back from the dump truck that I could stop....   What a mess, took me over an hour to drive thru Wally world parking lot, and home depot, to get just to the other side, and they closed 11 mins before I got there.  

[dperry10]

You do know that you can have the dr write on in comments on the request to have a copy mailed to patient ?   I asked him to do it about a month ago, and the hemo, and have been getting them no prob.. if I do tests on thurs.. I have in Saturdays mail, if I do friday, I don;t get it till Weds mail.   Dr has it on Tuesday, but I would always have to call them to get results.  
So asked how I could get copy sent directly to me, when I was at quest, and she told me have the dr write it on there.

Glad its the sensitive test though...  And I gave the doctor some info that I printed out online about how much procrit to be rx for start of that drug.   They only had me on 10,000 l/u per week, and HGB was steady dropping, I was at 9.2 last week, now I won't test again till Monday.    They keep changing things... finally convinced them I needed more yesterday, and they only gave me 20 K.    So hoping I can just hang in there ... and that I have that 2 log drop..  I will be going nuts over the next week waiting ....  Next week is my last scheduled week off from work at 100 % pay, then it dropps to 50 %, so I gotta go back to work.   But with this decline, I am hoping I can handle this.   Just worried I guess, since this is my 2nd time around..  tx 14 years ago.

[Myown]

When I had the 2nd Heptimax test it took long. A couple of weeks actually. I was freaking out of course. Then the NP told me that if its under 50, it then gets TMA test which takes more time. I may not have said all that exactly the way it goes, but thats the jist of it. In other words if they ordered the <5 test, first the blood gets tested down to <50, if it comes up 50 or higher, they wouln't be doing the 2nd part of the test. So when someone gets heptimax test, the longer it takes to come back I guess would be considered a good sign.

[FlGuy]

I usually do PCR (same one) blood draws at Quest on Fridays.  Doc usually calls with results the following Thursday.

[dperry10]

Yes it was 'HVC RNA Quantitative Real Time PCR',    so if thats the one.. that goes down to,  and 50 is lowest ?  or at least lower than 615, then it should be suffcient.
What about the time line to get the results back ?   I had the doc to be sure to put on the request to mail me a copy.    I do not want to refill my meds if I am not going to continue .    So depending on how long it takes to get it back, I may not have enough time to get my meds,   I have 1 for tomorrow, and then 2 more.   The specialty pharmacy keeps calling, but I have not picked up the phone.    Its sent overnite, so it should not be a problem.  But if It takes longer than 2 wks.   and I have that 2 log drop, I need my meds and I may be hit....

Not being able to get it quick enough, but they do overnite it..  So heres hoping every thing is kosher..