Elizabeth Alkhas, MS, CNS, CCN accept clients on a case-by-case basis and also maintains a referral practice with Dr. Dan Harper, MD.

Unfortunately, the office is not accepting new clients as of January 01, 2012. Questions and/or inquiries can be via email to me@elizabethalkhas.com.

HEALING THE GUT PROGRAM

All appointments with the office (initial, results-oriented and follow-up) are pre-paid at the time of scheduling and are conducted via teleconference call and/or Internet enabled. Weekly follow-up appointments are routine and typically last 15-30 minutes. Clients must have access to both the Internet and a telephone line simulataneously in order to work with this office.

The office currently provides laboratory testing for immune responses related to intestinal permeability and gluten intolerance along with a dietary transition program that assits clients with healing "leaky gut syndrome" and associated food intolerances. The office bases its suggestions and recommendations ultizing predictive antibody testing for Intestinal Permeability, Gluten Intolerance (12 antibodies), and the identification of Cross Reactive Foods with gluten. These tests will identify the potential of auto-immunity of the digestive tract, reactions to gluten as well as additional foods that promote an inflammatory response.

Please see this video for more information on the importance of predictive antibody testing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zlJ8CztFO8.

Based on laboratory results, the office then provides an integrated dietary transition program which includes the following:

• Identification of Current Inflammatory Foods & Pertinent Alternatives
• Therapeutic Dietary Strategy
• Targeted Nutritional Supplementation Suggestions
• Dietary Prescription for Specialized Meal Development
• Referral to Personal Chef Service for Weekly Meal Delivery

A hallmark of the program is a strategic relationship with a San Diego based personal chef service that is highly educated in food intolerances. Experience indicates that clients progress more rapidly when they are able to quickly incorporate dietary therapy. Incorporation of a meal service can relieve the stress or hassel of cooking and increase client compliance and positive outcome(s). This is an effective and surprisingly affordable way to recieve pre-made meals each week that quickly initiates important dietary changes that enable clients to experience the benefit of diet therapy in a very short period of time.

Initial Consultation:

• $95.00 (maximum 30 minutes)

This fee includes review of client information completed prior to appointment, the initial consultation for review of case, strategic question & answer session, and determinination if Cyrex testing is deemed appropriate . If so, the preparation of test requisition is also included in this fee. If Cyrex Lab testing is determined appropriate, identification of pursuing specific tests is explored. Pricing for specific tests and interpretation fee is outlined below.

Appointments are scheduled in Pacific Time and may either be conducted soley via teleconference or with the addition of a Internet-based meeting application. Type of appointments are determined ahead of time. For internet-based consultations, meeting requests are delivered via email with all pertinent meeting login and teleconferencing information. Clients must have access to both the Internet and a telephone line simulataneously to participate in these type of appointments.

Consultation fees are pre-paid prior to the appointment upon receipt of New Client Packet. The office accepts Visa and MasterCard as payment options. 

Cyrex Labs Test Pricing:

• Secretory IgA:  Immune Marker (Saliva) - $55.00
• Array 1:           Mucosal Gluten Reactivity Screen (Saliva) - $115.00
• Array 2:           Intestinal Permeability (Blood) - $195.00
• Array 3:           Wheat/Gluten Reactivity & Autoimmunity (Blood) - $325.00
• Array 4:           Gluten Associated Cross Reactive Foods (Blood) - $225.00

Clinical information regarding key Array tests can be reviewed here: Array 2   Array 3   Array 4

Cyrex Labs requires all tests be pre-paid prior to commencing. Due to the sophisticated nature of the tests, Cyrex Lab tests are often not reimbursed by insurance. Cyrex encourages patients to contact their insurance provider before having testing performed. The insurance provider will need the testing CPT codes, which are listed here by the specific test Arrays: http://www.cyrexlabs.com/CyrexTestsArrays/tabid/136/Default.aspx.

Cyrex Laboratories and Elizabeth Alkhas are not contracted with any insurance provider, including Medicare. Patients are given invoices/statements, which can be sent to their insurance provider for possible reimbursement directly by clients.

Testing can be only conducted currently in the domestic US due to laboratory restrictions.

Laboratory Results Interpretation & Dietary Transition Suggestions:

• $250.00 (maximum 1-hour)

This fee includes review of laboratory results prior to appointment, clinical nutrition consultation based upon laboratory findings, strategic question & answer session, dietary suggestions and guidelines as suggested by results, preparation of specialized dietary prescription and referral to personal chef services as pertinent.

Consultation and Cyrex lab fees are pre-paid prior to administration of testing. Cyrex Labs and my office both accept Visa and MasterCard as payment options.

Please note that California state law prohibits health practitioners from profiting from laboratory tests. The office receives no compensation from Cyrex stated laboratory fees as listed above.

Dietary supplements and specialized meal services are additional costs to consultation appointments and laboratory testing fees.

A specific dietary prescription is made directly from the office and weekly meal delivery services are additional costs to clients and are contracted directly with the personal chef services. Average price each week ranges from approximately $110.00 - $175.00 depending on number of meals requested. Unfortunately, meal recipes and cookbooks are not currently offered at this time.

The office is available to provide feedback for questions as well as clinical support for personal chefs or other key health care team members as needed either within the San Diego area or within the domestic US. Fees are outlined in the New Client Packet appropriately.

Step 1: New Client Request

To request a new client appointment, please send email to me@elizabethalkhas.com. Once received, the office will forward a New Client Packet to you via email for review. Once complete, please return the forms via fax to 760-476-9287. This is the most efficient way to expedite your request. Should paperwork need to be returned via postal mail, please see the business mailing address on the Contact page of this website.

Step 2: Schedule Initial Appointment

Upon receipt and review of your New Client Packet via our office fax, your credit card will be charged $95.00 and you will receive a receipt along with available initial consultation appointment times via email. Currently, clinical appointments are conducted only via teleconference on Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 11:00am-5:00pm PT. Consultations may include the use of an internet-based meeting software where lab results can be reviewed online during the consultation. This is particularly helpful when reviewing laboratory results.

Step 3: Receipt of Test Kit and Lab Requisition Form

Once tests are agreed upon and pre-paid, clients will receive a receipt for consultation time, a copy of the lab invoice with CPT codes, a Cyrex lab test kit and a Patient Requisition Form all via postal mail. The Patient Requisition form is required to schedule your blood draw (see Step 4). Please keep the requisition form and kit intact with the shipping label and UPS shipping package banded with a rubber band. The form and kit contents are required for your blood test.

Step 4: Scheduling Your Blood Draw

Visit www.cyrexlabs.com 

• On the home page, you will see “Patients” Tab;
• Click - “Schedule a blood draw” on this part of the Cyrex Labs website;
• Enter – Your Requisition ID and Confirmation Code (top right hand side of your form);
• Choose – Standard clinics (free of charge) or Home Health Services ($44.50 Service Charge);
• Print – Appointment confirmation (a copy will also be emailed to the patient).

Please note there are help videos available in the Patient Area of the website to assist patients in scheduling services.

Step 5: Preparing for Your Blood Draw

What You Need to Bring to Your Blood Draw Appointment:

• Your Signed Cyrex Test Requisition Form;
• A Printed Appointment Confirmation;
• The Specimen Collection Kit (also be sure to include UPS shipping label and ship pack);
• Your Pre-Collected Saliva Specimen (Array 1 or Secretory IgA Tests Only).

To avoid wait times at the lab, please contact the lab beforehand to check on the wait times (you will receive a confirmation email that contains the specific lab contact information). THIS IS NOT A FASTING TEST. Tests are typically required to be completed before noon in order to comply with shipping guidelines.

It is very important that you remember to bring all the items listed above with you for your blood draw appointment or you will not be able to conduct the test. This is also proof that you have paid for your test.

Step 6 : Optional Home or Work Based Blood Draw

Patients have the option to have blood drawn at a home or work location.

• A phlebotomist can be scheduled to perform the blood draw at a home or place of employment.
• Home Health Services (the contracted mobile blood draw service) can be scheduled directly by a patient at www.cyrexlabs.com or by calling Cyrex Labs directly (602) 759-1245.
• The fee for home or place of a business blood draw is $44.50
• Home Health Services remote services are paid at the time of scheduling.

Important Notes:

Client progress is monitored by follow-up repeat testing and is scheduled at 3 or 6 month intervals depending upon severity of the case.

Questions specifically regarding Cyrex Labs blood draw services or insurance submission should be directed to Cyrex Labs customer service at (602) 759-1245, or frontdesk@cyrexlabs.com. 

A comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section for Cyrex Lab testing is available here http://www.cyrexlabs.com/PatientFAQ/tabid/218/Default.aspx and here http://www.cyrexlabs.com/FAQs/tabid/128/Default.aspx.

All questions not related to Cyrex can be directed to me@elizabethalkhas.com.

LabCorp, Quest Labs or others blood draw facilities are NOT contracted to perform Cyrex Labs tests. There are no exceptions. Patients must schedule blood draws via the Cyrex Labs website or by calling Cyrex Labs directly. Cyrex Labs will NOT reimburse patients for lab tests performed at non-approved or contracted laboratory facilities.

Patients under 15 years of age and younger will need to secure a specialty lab to perform Cyrex test. Pediatric blood draws are not included under Cyrex Labs contracted laboratories.

Saliva tests are available for pediatric patients. See tests above.

All patients 15 years of age and younger are included in the pediatric group. Pediatric blood draws must be scheduled by the parents at a laboratory of their choosing, and must be paid for by the parent at the time of service. Cyrex encourages that patients check their insurance for coverage before scheduling.

Patients in remote areas may incur additional service fees.

Client tests are conducted under the Cyrex Labs account of Dr. Dan Harper M.D.  Elizabeth Alkhas MS, CNS, CCN is the interpreting clinical nutrition practitioner.

 

 

Accepting Clients