Autism Recovery Network
Medical Testing
It would be impossible to list a set of tests that all people with autistic spectrum disorders should have as they are all different. What one child may need, may be totally wrong for another individual. The following list of tests, instead, is a list of frequently used tests. Please research these tests, ask your doctors, call the labs who perform them and ask for written materials about their tests. This list includes contact information which may be useful to practitioners who may order these tests for you.
Each child should have a full developmental evaluation, physical, family history, and a pregnancy history.
Any doctor can order testing for Fragile X, inborn errors of metabolism and rule out genetic disorders.
An MRI is of minimal benefit in general, given the cost, but can be useful as a starting point for pinpointing damage such as demyelineation.
A PET would be beneficial but radioactive material is injected to go to the brain therefore reducing the overall advantages.
The following are the tests which are the most scientifically valid tests used in autism.
1) Comprehensive Stool Digestive Analysis with parasites, pathogens and yeast MIC
Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories, 63 Zillicoa Street, Asheville NC 28801 (800)522-4762 (704)253-0621www.gsdl.com
2) Titres
Any doctor or hospital can pull titres to measure immunity. The most useful are:
rubeola (measles) IgG
mumps IgG
rubella IgG quantitative
diphtheria IgG
tetanus IgG
pertussis IgG
Heb B surface Ab
Polio IgG
3) Infectious testings
CMV IgG
Herpes I and II IgG and IgM
V. Zoster IgG
HHV-6 IgG
**Getting a PCR at the Mayo Clinic would be ideal as the monocytes of the blood are what need to be PCR'd.
Specialty Laboratories 2211 Michigan Avenue Santa Monica, CA 90404-3900 (310) 828-6543 or (800) 421-7110 www.specialtylabs.com
Immunosciences Labs 8730 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 305 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 (800) 950-4686 www.immuno-sci-lab.com
4) Serum IgA, IgE, IgG w/subclasses, IgM
Antibody Assay Laboratory 1715 E. Wilshire, #715, Santa Ana, CA 92705 (800)522-2611 www.antibodyassay.com
5) EEG A minimum 6 hour with full sleep cycle is recommended or a computer enhanced EEG (digitally analyzed) or a QEEG. EEG's are available at most major hospitals but the QEEG is available from neurologist Dr. Gary Weiss, 1071 Pt. Malabar Blvd., Suite 106, Palm Bay, FL 32905 407-727-9063
6) Thyroid studies (TSH, T3RIA, T4 and antithyroglogulin antibodies)
A TRH test is more accurate but some doctors will not order it until the above tests come back out of normal range. Unfortunately, with autistic children, they often come back normal even with severe hypothyroidism. Medline has many abstracts supporting this including [Intestinal pseudoobstruction in hypothyroidism]. You are not looking for a TRH level, but rather the effect that TRH (thyrotrophin releasing hormone) has on TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). The test consists of a draw for a baseline TSH reading, followed by an injection of TRH and follow up draws at 30 minutes and one hour.
7) Anti-Brain Antibodies Anti-MBP (Myelin Basic Protein), Anti-NAFP (Neuro Axil Filament Protein), Anti-serotonin and others.
Dr. Vijendra Singh Biotechnology Center Utah State University UMC 4700 Logan, UT 84341-4700 (435)797-7193 email to singhvk@cc.usu.edu or singhvk@biology.usu.edu Draw Anti-MBP test #1056 and Anti-Neuron Filament Protein antibodies test #1052 (blood test). Email him a request with your telephone number or address to see his availability to perform the tests.
Antibody Assay Laboratory 1715 E. Wilshire, #715, Santa Ana, CA 92705 (800)522-2611 www.antibodyassay.com
8) Provacative urine test for heavy metals. This test is best done at Doctors Data Lab and is a urine test followed by a provacative dose of DMSA. Do not give DMSA to anyone with mercury fillings in their teeth.
Doctors Data Lab www.doctorsdata.com
Doctor's Data, Inc. P.O. Box 111 West Chicago, Illinois 60186
800.323.2784
9) Food Allergy IgG and IgE profile
Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories, 63 Zillicoa Street, Asheville NC 28801 www.gsdl.com(800)522-4762 (704)253-0621
Tests needed to determine need for IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin):
Immunoglobulin total and subclasses, Quantitative T and B lymphocytes, functional antibodies against measles, rubeola, pneumococcus and tetanus. Insurance companies also require testing on Immune deficiency to cover treatment.
The Top Ten therapy options used by parents:
1) Gluten and Casien free diet
2) Yeast eradication
3) Other gut pathogen clean out
4) Applied Behavioral Analysis
5) Secretin
6) Sensory Integration including Auditory Integration Training
7) Mercury toxicity/allergy testing
8) Mega B6 as (P5P), Mega Folate, Magnesium, Calcium, More protein, Essential Fatty Acids (Especially GLA), digestive enzymes for some
9) Exercise (running)
10) Pharmacology, herbals, orthomolecular amino acids and other things like low-dose Sphingolin (Myelin Basic Protein), 5 hydroxy tryptophan (5HTP), St. Johns Wort, GABA, Taurine, etc.
Blood Work Done in Your Home for Tests
Mobile Lab Services PO Box 5058 Deltona, FL 32728 (407)324-7951 Fax: (407)324-0077
10 phlebotomists Owner: Mae Nichols. Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Lake, Some Volusia.
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