Does anyone have a good email or phone number for Exatest?

I have tried emailing them with no answer to find a doctor that administare the test in my area. I have a doctor trying to order the test for me and he is not being answered.

Are they still in business?

thanks,
Sam

Sam - is this the info you are using? They used to be in CA but have moved to OR. [www.exatest.com]

Sam,

Perhaps you've already seen it, but their web site is up and running, with address, phone, etc.:

[www.exatest.com]



--Lance

Yes, I've hit this web site. I printed the info for the doctor, but no answers yet.

Thanks,
Sam

xSam -

Any doctor or nurse or assistant can do the simple scraping and collection of loose epithelial cells from under the tongue by following the instructions supplied with the kit, and then send the sample back to Exatest.

I recently took advantage of Medicare coverage for Exatest. I filled out the form on the Exatest website, and they mailed a kit to my doctor. He mailed the sample back and the results were faxed to the doctor's office within a week.

I have a "Medicare Complete" plan. All that was needed for 100% coverage was that the reason for the test be identified as 'diagnostic'. Easy to do! -- he read on the Exatest site the various conditions that might be associated with eletrolyte problems and picked one that fit, in my case hypertension.

Exatest is probably the only commonly available valid way for assessing intracellular electrolytes status, certainly for magnesium. Doctors Seelig and Rosanoff say in 'The Magnesium Factor' that even red blood cell measurement give misleading results, just as does serum measurement (p. 30 - 31).

Additionally, Exatest scores not only the individual electrolytes but also the equally important ratios between them -- P:K, Mg:Ca, Mg, K:Ca, K:Mg, K:Na. In my case K:Na (potassium:sodium) was out of range low, probably the reason for my somewhat high BP (Richard D. Moore, MD, PhD, The High Blood Pressure Solution).

Erling

Sam, please pardon the x! I don't know how that happened! Erling

Erling, thank you so much for the information on the Medicare coverage for the test. I am going to check into that. I haven't had the test because it was out of pocket cost that I just don't have. Sharon

Sharon - act quickly. When the new HC reform takes place a good deal of testing will probably be eliminated. Jackie

Jackie,

Is the exatest worth the expense and time? This would seem to put an end to any doubt as to whether or not there was any deficiencies causing or contritubiting to my events.

Doug - There is little time involved. Exatest is said to be the ultimate test.
It is expensive if you're not covered by Medicare. You could call Exatest and inquire about the cost. While some debate that the Red Blood Magnesium blood test is a relatively accurate substitute, many doctors do use it but it, too, is not just a standard test so it may not be fully covered by some insurance plans. You can always call the lab your doctor uses and inquire about the cost and coverage.

The standard serum potassium is accurate enough to determine where you stand with that.

Jackie