DavidE
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Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Reliability Of Mexican Medical Lab Test Results
I am hoping ENSENADA DR will chime in on this one.
Let's use Ensenada as a trial city for an example...
There must be what (?) half dozen or more "medical labs" in the city.
How does a customer tell a good lab from an unreliable lab?
Is there some sort of "Certification" to look for?
Kickbacks to the referring doctor?
Can an individual walk in and ask for a specific test?
The easiest way to transcribe English to Español when referencing a test?
Accuracy of critical tests, like sodium warfarin? Creatine in urine? CBC?
Personal experiences from using these types of services anywhere in Mexico? Inferior, or incorrect tests results obtained?
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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We have two main labs in Santa Rosalia and one has a stellar reputation of doing very accurate and precise work, the other, not so much. Normally the
physicians who use these labs have a good idea of who does the top notch work. It is like everything in Mexico, ask around and you will usually find
out.
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
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Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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A. You can't, only by trial and error.
B. Not that I am aware of. I will look into this further.
C.No kickbacks that I know of, I don't know about any other Doctor.
D.Yes anyone can walk in and ask for a test.
E. Either knowing Spanish, or Googling it.
F.I would stick to hospital labs like Velmar or Cardiomed, if your labs vary significantly to the ones you get in the US, have them repeat it.
| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
I am hoping ENSENADA DR will chime in on this one.
Let's use Ensenada as a trial city for an example...
There must be what (?) half dozen or more "medical labs" in the city.
How does a customer tell a good lab from an unreliable lab?
Is there some sort of "Certification" to look for?
Kickbacks to the referring doctor?
Can an individual walk in and ask for a specific test?
The easiest way to transcribe English to Español when referencing a test?
Accuracy of critical tests, like sodium warfarin? Creatine in urine? CBC?
Personal experiences from using these types of services anywhere in Mexico? Inferior, or incorrect tests results obtained? |
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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I've heard that if Mexico Docs want reliable results, and all things are in order, they send the patient to the States for labs. It's one of the
advantages of living close to the border.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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when the doctor asked me for some tests here in Asuncion, Juan wanted me to go to the lab in Vizcaino as they had more accurate results than the tests
done at the hospital here. So I did and when the doctor saw the results, she wanted me to have the tests again here as the Vizcaino clinic results
were unreliable.....sheesh! Maybe ask your doctor?
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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OK I got it. Have five tests done. Add up each test number for all five tests then divide by five.
Example
Test 1 210
Test 2 88
Test 3 166
Test 4 233
Test 5 109
Total 806
Divide by 5 = 161
Oh wait, that can't be right, the patient died right after test #5
Oh how wonderful this must be for folks monitoring sodium warfarin blood concentration levels.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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BajaLuna
Senior Nomad
Posts: 581
Registered: 12-5-2012
Location: Pacific Northwest/Bahia Asuncion
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Mood: groovy
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I don't know how accurate this info is, but for what it's worth....my Dr. up here in the Pacific Northwest where I live, he travels a lot in Mexico,
he told me if you ever need medical tests, lab work etc done, make sure you go to a lab or a clinic next to, or attached to, or associated with a
major hospital or go to a place like this located inside the hospital. In his experience they have the most state of the art equipment. I'm sure
"state of the art" varies in different parts of Mexico, but this was his advice to me.
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vacaenbaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 641
Registered: 4-4-2006
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In the old days most blood work was done manualy. You used a hemocytometer, and your knowledge of morphology to to count and classify. You also did
your own dilutions,
culture smears ph tests etc by hand. You really had to know
your stuff.
Then the era of automated lab chemistries came. It was
faster and the machine does all the "guess work" via
computer programs that control a wonderful maze of electromechanical sampling and measuring devices.
For this system to work correctly it must be CALIBRATED
and maintained at regular intervals. Old reagents should not be used, and periodic benchmark comparisons should be made man vs machine. Alas this does
not always happen. even in the USA. Factory service is VERY EXPENSIVE.
That is why sometimes a
doctor may have more faith in the results given to him by a very competent lab tech using
manual methods rather than those spit out by some possibly ill maintained modern equipment.
It is all about quality control. The lab has to be run by someone
that takes the time and expense to make sure that their
results are accurate.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
when the doctor asked me for some tests here in Asuncion, Juan wanted me to go to the lab in Vizcaino as they had more accurate results than the tests
done at the hospital here. So I did and when the doctor saw the results, she wanted me to have the tests again here as the Vizcaino clinic results
were unreliable.....sheesh! Maybe ask your doctor? |
This is the definitive answer to the question.....How eff are we supposed to know?
I had blood pulled in a Maneadero lab for a local doctor, who I trust.. for a cardiologist, who told me my blood sugar was reeeeeeely high....I mean
reeeeeely high according to the test.
I went home and jumped onto Amazon and ordered every piece of home test equipment offered.
Got it all and proceeded to test what was left of my life, and wadddaya know? There was nothing....nothing at all...wrong with my blood sugar. I
tested myself for months. No number that ever approached 100.
I guess I'm fine.
Not sure about that lab.....or the doctor.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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I have never heard a Mexican doctor admit that to a patient (even though they might feel that way). Did any of your doctors Dennis tell you that
personally? I find that hard to believe.I know Dr. Esquer relies on his own laboratory in Ensenada and has a lot of faith in them. | Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
I've heard that if Mexico Docs want reliable results, and all things are in order, they send the patient to the States for labs. It's one of the
advantages of living close to the border. |
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meme
Senior Nomad
Posts: 756
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: San Felipe,BC
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Dr Abasolo's office here has a lab right next door. San Felipe. He has ordered tests for my husband several times & they are as accurate as the
tests we have had done in the U.S & his Dr in U.S accepts them readily.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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With rat poison therapy, extremely accurate and dependable lab tests are essential. A little too much or too little, and oh well, you don't want to
know.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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not enough info re your 'blood pull' as I'm sure others will point out. was it a random draw? a fasting blood sugar? a glucose tolerance test?
did you eat a couple of Bimbo cakes before hand?
what did the cardiologist say, other than 'really high.'
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
when the doctor asked me for some tests here in Asuncion, Juan wanted me to go to the lab in Vizcaino as they had more accurate results than the tests
done at the hospital here. So I did and when the doctor saw the results, she wanted me to have the tests again here as the Vizcaino clinic results
were unreliable.....sheesh! Maybe ask your doctor? |
This is the definitive answer to the question.....How eff are we supposed to know?
I had blood pulled in a Maneadero lab for a local doctor, who I trust.. for a cardiologist, who told me my blood sugar was reeeeeeely high....I mean
reeeeeely high according to the test.
I went home and jumped onto Amazon and ordered every piece of home test equipment offered.
Got it all and proceeded to test what was left of my life, and wadddaya know? There was nothing....nothing at all...wrong with my blood sugar. I
tested myself for months. No number that ever approached 100.
I guess I'm fine.
Not sure about that lab.....or the doctor. |
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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Doesn't matter. A healthy individual can eat a half dozen ears of corn, and wash it down with a quart of orange juice, and 15-minutes later a standard
home brew One-Touch tester will not claim blood sugar is "really really high". 160 perhaps, or if they stick themselves in the same finger they just
held onto a Snickers bar with, then a massive error can result. That's a second reason why in MD offices when they stick someone for sugar they first
sterilize (which cleans too) with alcohol.
Some medications, especially some corticosteroids can cause blood sugar levels to go truly crazy, even in a borderline diabetic. When my only
alternative to suffering excruciating herniated lumbar disc pain was to read about forum member's recommendations about TRAMADOL, plus the NIMESUIDE,
for an NSAID, plus 20mg prednisone BID, I caught my blood sugar rising to near 600 (six hundred). I decided to go on insulin for a few weeks.
The A1C as you state must be done after fasting a day.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I have never heard a Mexican doctor admit that to a patient (even though they might feel that way). |
Well...it was the same doc who had me on Coumadin who never asked for a blood-level test.
He didn't even ask for the test he commented on. Dr. Scary had that done and I just passed the results on to the cardio dude.
waddooIno.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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This Is A Lot Cheaper Than The Farmacia Stuff
 The trick, is getting the dosage "Just Right"
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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LOL,,,LOL................
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
The trick, is getting the dosage "Just Right" |
That's the trick with the pharma stuff too. Not really a trick, but a requirement which my expert, high paid, Mexico MD ignored.
Anyway....I'm off that and now using Pradaxa.
I'm not even sure I need this stuff anymore either. I'll discuss it with my US expert next appointment.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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