Home
About HEMEX
Test Menus
Client Services
Billing Services
Contacting HEMEX
Disclaimer / Privacy
Below are several frequently asked
questions concerning our ISAC Panel Testing. If your question is not answered
here, please feel free to ask your question of our Client Services Department
by either telephone (800-999-2568), fax (602-997-4274), or email (
).
- How do I get started to have an ISAC Panel run on me?
- Can I get the results myself?
- How long will it be before the tests will be completed?
- Do I have to ship with Dry Ice? Where do I get the Dry Ice?
- How many tubes will they draw?
- What is the cost of the tests?
- What does the drug protocol entail?
- Should I fast, or stop taking my medicines?
- Could you recommend a doctor in my area?
- How do we pay? Do you accept insurance? How do I get my insurance to OK this?
- What do the tests test for? What do the values mean?
- Can I talk to other patients on the heparin protocol?
- HHV6 - Who to refer to?
- When do I need to be retested?
- Will there be a consultation with my physician to explain the test results?
- Are all
the necessary tubes included in the ISAC Shipping Kit?
How do I get started to have an ISAC Panel run on me?
The ISAC testing must be ordered by a physician (MD, DO, Chiropractor, etc.). This physician will need to complete our New Client Information form. We can fax this form to your physician or the physician can fill it out online and submit it electronically. Once we have received the completed New Client Information form, we can send a kit to you or your physician’s office with complete drawing, processing, and shipping instructions.
HEMEX only releases test results to the ordering physician. If you would like to discuss your results with us, your physician must first give us permission. We are more than happy to consult with your physician about your test results and how to interpret them.
How long will it be before the tests will be completed?
Generally, test results should be available within seven working days from the time we receive the samples. However, we are experiencing delays due to kit manufacturing problems on the Fragment 1+2 assay.
Do I have to ship with Dry Ice? Where do I get the Dry Ice?
Some samples must remain frozen, requiring
that they be shipped with dry ice. Standard cold packs or regular ice will
not be sufficient to maintain the samples in a frozen state during transit.
Three to four pounds of dry ice will be sufficient to keep the samples
frozen during shipping, provided that remaining air space in the shipping
box has been filled with styrofoam peanuts or newspaper. HEMEX cannot provide
dry ice. It must be obtained in your local area. Your local supermarket,
ice cream vendor, or ice supplier should carry dry ice.
How many tubes will they draw?
The ISAC Panel requires that 6 tubes be drawn: One yellow top ACD-A tube, one plain red top tube (not an serum separator or Corvac tube), and four light blue top Sodium Citrate tubes. These tubes must be processed properly to insure optimal sample integrity.
- The yellow top tube must be shipped at room temperature and cannot be frozen. This tube is for platelet studies (live cell testing).
- The red top is allowed to clot, then centrifuged and the serum frozen in 2ml (milliliter) aliquots. Once frozen, the samples must remain frozen until they are tested. This tube is for antibody testing, Lp(a), and homocysteine.
- The light blue top tubes need to be centrifuged, and the plasma frozen in 1ml (milliliter) aliquots. Once frozen, the samples must remain frozen until they are tested. These tubes are for the remaining tests.
- The samples will be saved for 2 months in case the doctor wants to order the HTRP or other testing. This saves having to be redrawn and shipping again.
What is the cost of the tests?
All tests are to be paid for prior to testing.
We can bill your insurance as a courtesy. Please be sure to enclose a photocopy
of the front and back of your insurance card with the test requisition.
ISAC Panel - call Hemex for this
information
Hereditary Thrombosis Risk Panel
(HTRP) - call for information
Beta-2-Glycoprotein I (B2GPI) - call for
information
What does the drug protocol entail?
The drug therapy protocols can be discussed
with your physician. We can fax the protocols to the ordering physician.
Please have the physician call David Berg.
Should I fast, or stop taking my medicines?
The answer to this question depends on the instructions you have received from your physician. As a general rule, you should continue taking all prescription medications and note the drug, dosage, and date and time of the last dose on the test requisition.
Could you recommend a doctor in my area?
HEMEX has relationships with doctors from all over the world. If we know of a doctor in your area, we would be happy to provide you with names and telephone numbers. If you are in an area we do not yet have any clients, we would recommend you contact a doctor who specializes in rheumatology, hematology, or infectious disease.
How do we pay? Do you accept insurance? How do I get my insurance to OK this?
HEMEX will gladly accept payment with your VISA, Mastercard, or American Express card. If you would like us to bill your insurance as a courtesy, you must provide a photocopy of the front and back of your insurance card. You should call your insurance prior to being tested to determine if you need an authorization number for us to perform testing on your samples. Often, you will need to explain to your insurance that we are the only lab offering this testing, since these assays are very sensitive.
For what do the assays test? What do the values mean?
Tests can be ordered for a multitude of reasons. Generally, we are looking for abnormalities in the blood coagulation system that may be the root cause of one or more different health problems. It is always best to ask this question of your physician so that he/she can tell you exactly why that test was chosen and what the results can mean. David Berg is happy to consult with physicians to help them interpret the results from our testing. Patients will need to confer with the physician for an explanation of test values.
Can I talk to other patients on the heparin protocol?
There is a message board set up on eGroups.com for this specific purpose. This message board is not mediated or managed by HEMEX Laboratories. HEMEX simply provides a link to the web site from our web site as a courtesy to our patients.
Wisconsin Viral Research Group, LTD
Telephone (414) 774-0981
Website: http://www.hhv6.com
When do I need to be retested?
This depends on the initial values and what your physician decides. It is best to ask this question of your physician as many factors can affect when you will need to be retested. Usually, an ISAC Panel is redrawn after the patient has been on heparin for one month to check for proper heparin levels, herxheimer reactions, etc.
Will there be a consultation with my physician to explain the test results?
David Berg will be happy to consult with
physicians to help with understanding the values and their meaning.
Are all the necessary tubes included in the ISAC Shipping Kit?
HEMEX laboratories will only provide the yellow top ACD-A tube as many laboratories and drawing stations will not routinely stock these tubes. There are other tubes required for the ISAC Panel that are not included in the kit. Please refer to the instructions provided with your kit for additional tubes required and specific processing and shipping instructions.