INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 2

I would like to thank the 21 people who have inquired about MEBO Research's upcoming International TMAU Testing Program with Eliapharma Services Inc. At this time, we have 19 persons confirmed on the waitlist, even before we have completed all the preparations to begin testing. Testing will be done in batches of 60 specimens (two samples per person), and it looks like we'll get the 30 people by the time we are set up to test. This strong support is very much appreciated, and we are that much driven to ensure that we offer everyone the highest quality testing experience.

I am currently finalizing the training program on international shipping provided to me by FedEx particularly regarding the shipping process to and from the Canadian Lab to as many countries as necessary. My 30 years experience in the airline industry has given me significant expertise in international travel involving Customs procedures and now national security concerns. Now, instead of transporting passengers internationally, MEBO will be shipping medical kits and human specimens with some similar procedures but with significant differences. Eliapharma has already submitted the application for the Import/Export Permit from the Canadian authorities.

Eliapharma is setting up the validation process to run the tests. This lab has just received the trimethylamine (TMA) ordered from a chemical manufacturer to test multiple urine samples of persons without body odor conditions by adding controlled levels of TMA in the urine in order to ascertain how long the specimen will remain intact from a frozen state to room temperature before the TMA begins to evaporate to such a degree as to render the test inaccurate. The test will involve the use of a couple of different stabilizing acids to see which works best preserving the specimen for a longer period of time. We consider this to be a very important measure for us to take in order to ensure the quality of the specimens and accuracy of the tests. Meanwhile, the lab is also setting up and validating the equipment with the required trial runs, etc.

These and other procedures are very important steps that we are committed to taking, since we want to extend this testing opportunity to as many people from distant countries while securing an accurate and high quality testing process. We want to ensure that we use the proper kit supplies to protect the specimen, the proper shipping plan for timely delivery, and to have in order all government required documentation, such as Commercial Invoice, Airway Bill, return prepaid shipping label, and others (depending on countries involved), so that the specimen is not delayed in transit or at Customs, in order that it does not become corrupt and then consequently give inaccurate results. This process is also very user-friendly for the person testing, since all the documentation required by the respective governments will be prepared and prepaid in advance by MEBO Research.

I am a firm believer in establishing a good foundation in any and all projects I undertake, and this very important setting-up process is no exception. I always prefer quality over quantity to provide a flawless process; and if we hurry through this stage, we open ourselves to paying dearly for it in the long run with inaccurate results and damaged specimens.

Therefore, after discussing it with the president of Eliapharma, we believe that we will be in a good position to begin shipping out the kits on November 18th to those persons who have put their names on the waitlist. If you are interested in signing up to have your TMAU phenotype (urine) test done through MEBO Research and Eliapharma, you may send MEBO an email at tmautest@meboresearch.org, with no obligation to participate. In order to best calculate shipping costs, I would need to know the country, address (with postal code), and phone number of anyone requesting a kit. I will send you an email quoting an all inclusive rate once all preparatory arrangements have been finalized.

If you are still interested in testing at that time, you may fill out and submit the application with your payment in full through PayPal. An optional online survey will become available to you that you may fill out for future research purposes, though participation is strictly on a voluntary basis. MEBO and Eliapharma commit to strict confidentiality codes of ethics. Upon receipt of payment and the application, a kit will be mailed to you with clear instructions on how to do your choline load as well s your specimen collections and handling. All the necessary documentation, such as Customer Invoice, Air Waybill, and your return postage label will be included in the kit.

I appreciate your patience and support.

María de la Torre
President and Executive Director

maria.delatorre@meboresearch.org

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Related Posts:

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing and future research goals

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing Update 4

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 3

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE

More about TMAU testing through MEBO Research

TMAU Test with Eliapharma through MEBO Research

International TMAU testing in Canada : Special Group Rates

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Ataluren now being tested for methylmalonic acidemia

Note : Ataluren would only be potentially beneficial for those with a genetic disorder caused by a nonsense mutation, which is likely to be a minority

Regular readers will be aware that PTC Therapeutics are trialling a drug called Ataluren which is hoped to be able to 'negate' the nonsense premature stop order that happens with nonsense mutations, and so it is hoped will enable the protein to fully develop. Ideally, this would mean it completely negates a genetic disorder caused by a nonsense mutation although presumably a 100% achievement is not currently expected, and it is more likely hoped to improve the disorder to some degree.

Trials are ongoing using Ataluren as a treatment for cystic fibrosis, with the reported outcome being some improvement. They are also trialling it for hemophilia.

PTC Therapeutics have now released a press statement about their plans for a Phase 2 trial for sufferers who have nonsense mutations for Methylmalonic Acidemia, which is a very serious life-threatening enzyme disorder.

Ataluren is hoped to be beneficial in all enzyme disorders caused by nonsense mutations. Genetic Trimethylaminuria would obviously include a subset who fit this category (those with genetic TMAU due a nonsense mutation), but we do not know what percent of genetic TMAU cases are caused by nonsense mutations. It is likely to be a minority.

- First proof-of-concept clinical study of ataluren in a metabolic disorder -

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – October 26, 2010 – PTC Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it is expanding the development of ataluren, an investigational new drug, with the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial in nonsense mutation methylmalonic acidemia (nmMMA).  MMA is a rare genetic disorder caused by deficiencies of crucial metabolic enzymes.  Lack of these enzymes causes toxic levels of methylmalonic acid to accumulate in body fluids resulting in life-threatening metabolic complications affecting mainly the brain and kidneys

Full press release from PTC Therapeutics about Ataluren  

Ataluren FAQs

New paper on Asparagusuria by Monell Center

Asparagusuria:

producer/excretor : produces the urine odor

perceiver/detector : can smell the urine odor

Recently the Monell Chemical Senses Center published a medical paper about the centuries old puzzlement about the odorous urine after asparagus consumption.

September 2010 press release : Genetic Differences in Sense of Smell Identified Through Asparagus Urine Odor

Asparagusuria is of interest to the body odor community, in that it seems to have similar principles to trimethylaminuria in that both seem likely due to an enzyme issue, and in both cases there seems to be a minority of population who cannot detect the odor(s) produced. In the case of TMAU, the trend seems to be that the sufferer usually cannot detect their own odor. While Asparagusuria is not reported as causing a systemic body odor, it is similar to TMAU in that both leave a compound(s) unmetabolized in the urine (i.e. TMAU leaves trimethylamine).

We have posted about the asparagusuria conundrum previously in our blog

asparagus urine test experiment

Since Asparagusuria does not result in any known health problem, very little research has been done to discover the reasons for the phenomenom. This is also true of TMAU, even though the FMO3 enzyme has been in humans since the start of evolution and is a very commonly used enzyme by the body. Research into asparagusuria has given mixed outcomes. Probably the most in-depth research was done by Dr Steven Mitchell of London in the 1980's (who also has a TMAU research background).

Mitchell 2001 paper on asparagusuria 

non-excretors and non-detectors

The most interesting curiosities are that some people don't seem to produce an odorous urine after asparagus ingestion (non-producers) while other's do, and some seem unable to detect the odorous urine (non-perceivers). To further add to the confusion, it is not known if non-perceivers are actually non-producers and would be capable of detecting the odor in other's urine. Previous studies have again given mixed outcomes.

Is it the same enzyme problem ?

A very interesting point to this study was to find if non-producers and non-perceivers usually were genetically programmed to have both traits due to the same enzyme. This is elaborated in the quote below

The production and the perception hypotheses are often treated as if they are mutually exclusive, although there is no reason why individual differences in both production and perception cannot both be traits in the population. They might be due to the same cause. There is precedent for this hypothesis, as well: there are enzymes in human olfactory mucosa that alter molecules in ways that may change their odorant quality (Schilling 2006). Therefore, if a person lacks a key metabolic enzyme in the asparagus pathway, the inability to produce enough odorant to be detected in urine could also render the person unable to detect it (in any amount) by smell. In other words, the same enzyme could participate in both urine odorant production and in its detection. They could also coexist but be unrelated.

Because there is no known clinical problem associated with the inability to either excrete or detect the asparagus odor, the trait has received only scattered attention.

The outcome in this study did not seem to show this was the case. Of the 38 people in the study, only one had both non-excretor non-detector traits. As well as this result, the other notable results in the study were :

8% did not produce the odorous urine at detectable levels

6% could not smell obviously odorous urine

The level of odor varied

Recently a gene associated with a group of olfactory receptors was hypothesized as the receptors repsonsible for asparagusuria odor detection. This is probably what prompted this study, and it was found that there did indeed seem to be a trend to suggest this.

The inability to detect a certain odor (known as specific anosmia) is a very interesting concept to TMAU people because it is often the case that a person with TMAU and their close genetic relatives cannot smell the person. However it could also be something to do with a desensitivity to the odor. In the study, it was also suggested that inability to detect the odor was not an 'all or nothing' trait, but that detection levels varied. The various possibilities are explained in this quote :

The presumption is that one or more olfactory receptors respond to the asparagus odor but that these receptors are less functional in some people. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no family or twin studies of this anosmia, but differences in olfactory ability are due to heritable variation in olfactory receptors (Keller et al. 2007; Menashe et al. 2007), so this genetic explanation fits the available data (Eriksson et al. 2010). Although specific anosmias are often thought of as being all-or-none traits, thresholds are on a continuum and that is likely to be the case here. Some people are much less sensitive than others, but they may be able to smell the odorant if it were at higher concentrations than are usually found in human urine.

Odor sensitivity can change with repeated exposure to the odorant (Wysocki et al. 1989; Dalton et al. 2002), so someone who cannot produce the asparagus odor might be less able to smell it because they have less experience with the odor from their own urine. We cannot rule out the hypothesis that exposure to the asparagus odorant makes people more sensitive, and one limitation of this study was the lack of information about habitual asparagus intake. It is possible that genotype by experience effects might be important and that people with sensitive genotypes might become even more sensitive if they eat asparagus frequently and often produce (and smell) the odor. Future research should include the frequency of asparagus consumption to help determine the effect of experience on its perception.

Metabolites causing the odors in asparagusuria :

Surprisingly, the compounds repsonsbile for the asparaguria odor are not yet been confirmed. Previous studies have varied on suggestions for the compound(s). They all predictably think that sulfur compounds may be the culprit. A list of the previous suggestions is in the paper.

Candidate compounds for producing asparagusuria odor

It would be interesting to know if these compounds were FMO3 substrates.

So in the end, the paper does not solve the puzzle, but it adds another group of data to the previous data published, and this time suggests the non-perception may be due to a genetic trait among a group of olfactory receptors in particular.

2010 full paper : Excretion and Perception of a Characteristic Odor in Urine after Asparagus Ingestion: a Psychophysical and Genetic Study

pubmed abstract : asparagusuria paper 2010

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE

As mentioned in the previous three posts on MEBO Research’s International TMAU Testing Program, MEBO has been very proactively pursuing low cost international shipping possibilities of the TMAU test kit from Eliapharma Analytical Services Inc. to other countries, initially in the Western Hemisphere, while Eliapharma is obtaining an import/export permit from the Canadian authorities.

I AM VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE

that even before all the arrangements have been finalized, we already have 14 persons on the waitlist to participate in this program

from Canada, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.

So far, a number of positive developments have been established, such as,

1. There are no additional fees for internationally transporting dangerous good in quantities of less than one liter, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), governed under United Nations Class A Code UN 1789. HCl or another similar acid will be shipped in the kit to stabilize the samples,


Anyone interested in putting himself or herself on the waitlist may do so by sending an email to : tmautest@meboresearch.org
with no obligation to participate.
2. There are no additional fees for transporting urine specimen to test for chemical compounds, since it is unregulated if declared to be non-contagious : Infectious substance affecting humans, UN2814 Category A (United Nations Classification for Transportation & Shipment of Biological Materials), which would apply to infectious substance limited to viruses and bacteria, and UN 3373 substance including viruses, bacteria, fungi. A disclosure statement would have to be signed by the person whose urine is being analyzed,


3. There will be no Duty or Taxes incurred for the specimen kit, with and without urine. It has been classified by the World Trade Organization with a Harmonized Code (HC) Number 9018.90.8000, which describes the commodity as an, “Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, nesi, and parts and accessories thereof MFN Duty Rate: Free.” Nonetheless, MEBO would still like to double check to verify with each country that the kit will be mailed to for additional confirmation.

In other words, it appears that the only shipping cost involved may only be the FedEx negotiated shipping rate, which is still in the works. I will be having another conference call tomorrow with my FedEx accounts executive and an expert in international shipping procedures involving so many countries to obtain more information. I will do all possible to ensure that there will not be any other "hidden fees," though I realize that since there are so many countries involved, we won’t know for certain until we actually begin the process. However, all efforts to obtain information and clarification in advance will be exhausted in this preparatory stage.


Anyone interested in putting herself or himself on the waitlist may do so by sending an email to, tmautest@meboresearch.org with no obligation to participate. PLEASE NOTE WHAT COUNTRY YOU’RE IN ON THE EMAIL. Once all arrangements have been finalized, we will contact you.

María de la Torre
President and Executive Director
MEBO Research
maria.delatorre@meboresearch.org
www.meboresearch.org

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Related Posts:

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing and future research goals

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing Update 4

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 3

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 2

More about TMAU testing through MEBO Research

TMAU Test with Eliapharma through MEBO Research

International TMAU testing in Canada : Special Group Rates

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Spring 2011 Meetup in Washington DC

WHERE WILL MEBO RESEARCH HOLD IT'S
SECOND U.S. ANNUAL MEETUP???

Today we had a very good conference call in the US. Although I was unable to join the call until later, I did manage to do so when they were discussing MEBO Research’s first annual meetup held on March 2010. The callers had been discussing where and when we would hold the next US meetup in 2011. (See this link for full coverage of the 2010’s meetup in Nashville.) There were a couple of locations mentioned, and we ended up leaning toward a “Washington DC Meetup in April 2011.”

There are many reasons why DC would be such a great place to meet.

LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION: It has a great Metro (subway) system that would allow us to not have to rent a car. It is serviced by three airports, the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Dulles International Airport, and the Baltimore Washington International Airport. Also, Amtrak offers service to the Washington area from many places in the country. In addition, many people from the Northeastern US were unable to make last year’s meetup in Nashville, and the DC location would make it easier for them to attend this year. We were discussing maybe holding next year’s meetup further west, maybe just east of the Rocky Mountains to be closer to our members on that side of the world. But for this year, it seems that DC is the spot.

HOTEL: Since the Embassy Suites was such a hit in last year’s meetup, another Embassy Suites was unanimously recommended for the DC Meetup in Spring 2011. We are going to look at one near the Dulles International Airport, since it would probably be much less costly than one near central DC. The hotel’s spacious lobby with its cozy waterfalls gardens makes for a welcoming and laid-back ambiance where one feels relaxed and more at ease talking to others in the group.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: As we did last year, MEBO Research will negotiate a group corporate rates and a Governor’s Suite. The accommodations would include complimentary airport shuttle and shuttle service to the Metro, daily full breakfast buffet, and the 2 hour Manager’s Reception with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and snacks – something similar to last year’s accommodations in Nashville (though the room rates may vary slightly). We won’t know what room rates will be yet until MEBO makes the arrangements with the hotel.

SIGHTS AND LANDMARKS: The best part of Washington DC is found in “The National Mall and Memorial Parks,” where one can enjoy many beautiful and meaningful sights free of charge. The Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington DC administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit of the National Park Service. This Mall encompasses the area between the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol, with the Washington Monument almost mid-center. Along the sides of this approximate 1 mile (1.6km) long and 400 feet (120m) wide area are the Smithsonian Museum buildings with priceless collections, including the Air and Space Museums, Natural History Museum, American History Museum, and many more. And let us not forget the moving experience one feels while visiting the Memorial sections including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National World War II Memorial with the Reflecting Pool that divides them (seen in the Forest Gump movie), the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the District of Columbia War Memorial.

We are still in the initial phase of organizing this meetup with the exact dates yet to be determined, but we do hope everyone from around the world will join us in this very special event, so this will be the first of the many more posts yet to come. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

María de la Torre
President and Executive Director

maria.delatorre@meboresearch.org

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Related Post :

Washington DC 2011: You can book MEBO'S 2nd Annual Meetup

Our Own Website to book Washington DC Embassy Suite Reservations

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More about TMAU testing through MEBO Research

MEBO Research have been looking to source a trimethylaminuria testing lab for a while for a few reasons. A primary aim is to provide the body odor and halitosis community with a reliable source of TMAU testing directly, without a doctor's referral, at the least expensive price without a loss of quality. Currently so few labs test for TMAU, and the medical system often puts obstacles in the way, which can prevent those wishing to test getting access to testing. MEBO hopes to prove how many people have some issue with TMAU, with a result that local testing units will add TMAU to their list of metabolism tests.

We have had difficulty identifying labs who would be interested in helping us, especially at an international level. The bigger labs seem not interested, probably due to thinking there is not a market. Eliapharma was contacted because it was noted that a pioneer in analytical testing in the USA, Dr. Orval Albert Mamer, is their Scientific Advisor. His name was noticed from the list of experts who attended the NIH TMAU Workshop in 2002, talking about analysis of choline testing. Dr. Mamer was also involved with this paper about TMAU phenotype testing from 1999.

Eliapharma is an analytical service set up in 2007 by Samir Nassr, who has a long history and expertise in this industry, as can be seen from his bio : Eliapharma team. Although they have not previously offered a 'clinical' testing service as such, they do have the equipment and expertise to test such samples. Samir has kindly offered to help us with this project. The samples will not initially be regarded as 'clinical' specimens. They will be testing the TMA and TMA-oxide in each sample as if for a trial, rather than as a diagnostic service, but will be tested to the same clinical standard and the results given will enable determination of TMAU1 & TMAU2 to the current general clinical reference ranges.

What will be tested :

1. Trimethylamine level
2. Trimethylamine-n-oxide level
3. Creatinine

TMAU phenotype (urine) testing is usually done by any of these 3 methods : (from this link)

• Head-space gas chromatography (GC) or GC-mass spectrometry
• Mass spectroscopy
• Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (state of the art, but very expensive machine)

API4000 for TMAU testing

Eliapharma has a mass spectrometer that will be used for our TMAU testing. They use an API4000 by Applied Systems as seen on this page : TMAU testing machine. The technique used will be Liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry

Currently we are working out the logistics of the testing procedure. It is standard procedure in this type of testing for samples to be tested in 'arrays' to make it economically viable, since the labor costs and materials needed make testing a batch at one time the sensible way to test. We chose 30 people in an array to start with, to keep costs down per person but not have too long to wait to reach 30 people (cost per person = number of samples per batch)

Once we have arranged the shipping and packaging, test-kits will immediately be sent out to those who wish to test, and the samples will be stored at Eliapharma until the 30 people testing have been reached, while MEBO Reseach holds the funds. Once the test is run for the 60 samples collected from 30 people, MEBO will pay Eliapharma in full to run those tests.

Eliapharma is charging $110 for 2 samples per person, and the approximate cost of the kit is currently $30. MEBO is to pay around $1,000 for the cost of materials in the start-up procedure. This is to be paid to Eliapharma from a surcharge/donation of $10 included in the total amount paid by the person testing. It is currently estimated that after 100 people, this fee will be paid off. After that, MEBO will keep the $10 as donations to MEBO Research, a non-profit organization, to either pay for costs involved in testing or in running the charity. So the current estimated price of testing is $110 + $30 + $10 + shipping.

Since Eliapharma is in Canada, thus mostly shipping internationally, and the kits will likely include a small amount of HCL (or another acidic preservative) to stabilise the samples, we are currently working on the best shipping arrangements with the shipper and US and Canadian Customs Agencies. Shipping will be done by FEDEX to begin with. Shipping cost will be included for the round trip. We will always be looking for ways to make shipping the most cost-effective possible.

We will keep you updated with the setting up process.

To register an interest and be on the waiting list
send an email to : tmautest@meboresearch.org


MEBO RESEARCH STAFF

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Related Posts:

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing and future research goals

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing Update 4

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 3

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 2

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE

TMAU Test with Eliapharma through MEBO Research

International TMAU testing in Canada : Special Group Rates

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TMAU Test with Eliapharma through MEBO Research

As noted in our introductory post, International TMAU Testing in Canada : Special Group Rate," this program's primary aim is to systematically provide testing as affordably as possible to all sufferers throughout the world, most of whom currently do not have any testing opportunities whatsoever." By doing so, we can also obtain data from those who voluntarily opt to take a brief survey (not required to do so in order to test) that may be used in future research into body odor conditions. If people from many countries who have different lifestyles and diets participate in this program, we will obtain valuable information about the variations in TMAU sufferers of different cultures, as well as those who test negative for TMAU.

Since Eliapharma is located in Canada and MEBO Research, Inc. is based in Miami, FL, US, we are making the necessary arrangements to test anyone from either of these two countries, while we also focus on working with Customs Agencies of Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina as a starting point. Once this service is up and running, we will then move on to other countries that don't have labs to test for TMAU.

In order to comply with all the shipping laws of the two governments' involved with each shipment, much preparation and documentation must be arranged in advance. Since the kits shipped from Eliapharma in Canada will include two bottles of 4mL hydrochloric acid (HCl), special handling preparations and the proper documentation must be ensured in advance by MEBO in order to comply with each country's requirements. In addition, since the specimens returned to Eliapharma consist of body fluids, even more protocols need to be adhered to in order to comply with each government's laws and guidelines. What seems to be a very simple process is actually a monumental task when crossing international lines.

Nonetheless, MeBO is a proactive patient advocacy group, and no trouble is too much trouble that would deter us from ensuring to the best of our ability that all sufferers from around the world have access to TMAU testing.

We are most grateful to FedEx for offering the complementary services of one of their customer service trainers to show us how to work through the vast sea of codes and international laws and regulations using their very comprehensive program, FedEx Global Trader Manager Demo.

It is MeBO's intentions that most of the documentation be done by MeBO in advance so that the person testing would only have to be concerned with following the enclosed choline/TMA load instructions, collecting the 2 specimens, adding the enclosed HCl to each specimen, freezing them along with the ice packs, and putting them in the original box to ship them back to Eliapharma with the prepaid postage and fully completed international documentation.

It's as simple as that, VOILÀ!

We will not turn down anyone wishing to test if it is within our power, so no matter what country you are in, please send an email expressing your interest to tmautest@meboresearch.org with no obligation to participate. PLEASE NOTE WHAT COUNTRY YOU'RE IN ON THE EMAIL. Once we receive the negotiated shipping rate information from FedEx, we will contact you.

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Related Posts:

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing and future research goals

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing Update 4

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 3

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 2

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE

More about TMAU testing through MEBO Research

International TMAU testing in Canada : Special Group Rates

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International TMAU testing in Canada : Special Group Rates

MEBO Research, Inc. and Eliapharma Analytical Services, Inc. in Laval, Québec, Canada have entered into a joint undertaking creating a low group rate Testing Program initially for TMAU phenotype (urine) test, and eventually for TMAU genotype (genetic testing) and other body odor related tests. The TMAU urine test will be for TMA & TMAO as well as creatinine, and will be done using mass spectroscopy. A physician referral is not needed to be tested. Eliapharma is charging $110 for 2 urine samples test per kit, a $30 fee for the kit, plus a $10 donation for MeBO to invest in its Mission and Strategies as described in MeBO’s website. This $150 cost includes a kit containing 2 glass tubes, two 4mL of 6N HCL, gloves, ice pack, an insulated container, and a box for round trip shipping. In order to be able to provide such a low group rates, it will be necessary for the lab to store the frozen samples and to wait for samples from 30 persons be collected. Each person can collect two samples at different times before shipping them back to the lab.

FedEx assures us that they can offer 48 hour shipments from anywhere in the world.

In an effort to create a “One Stop Shopping” experience for those members of our international community to be able to test comfortably, MEBO Research is having negotiations with FedEx, and initially with the Canadian and US Customs Agencies to arrange low roundtrip shipping rates of the kit to the person testing with a return shipping label, International Airway Bill, and Commercial Invoice. This will allow the person testing to not have to deal with these concerns. These negotiated international shipping rates, which are normally costly (precisely because the samples need to be shipped to arrive within 2 day) are yet to be determined. The shipping rate will be based on MeBO’s earned discounts (bulk rates). After this initial shipping phase is established between and within Canada and the United States, MeBO will then proceed to begin consulting with Customs Agencies of other countries, one country at a time in an effort to expand this service to all countries around the world that would have at least one sufferer wishing to test. FedEx assures us that they can offer 48 hour shipments from anywhere in the world. This may not apply to some very remote areas, thus instead of door-to-door service, some countries may allow to hold for pick-up at a FedEx Office, or airport to airport service.

Since shipment of samples from countries that are at a greater distance from Canada than the US may be more costly, it is MeBO’s intentions to pursue grants that would further assist us in providing free testing opportunities in the name of research. Anyone wishing to test is invited to participate in an OPTIONAL and VOLUNTARY confidential survey so that we may acquire data in an effort to establish a platform for research. These efforts are very much geared toward our primary goal – to research into all types of body odor conditions of persons with a positive and a negative TMAU test result.

The following highlights the benefits to this program:

1. A doctor’s referral is not necessary since we are collecting data for future research
2. Two vials of urine specimen per kit, which may be collected on different days, per person for $150 plus shipping
3. The speed of receiving test results depends on how quickly 30 persons submit their samples
4. The more people test, the lower the shipping cost
5. Confidential test records will be used to pursue research grants from international private and government agencies.
6. Those persons who test will be the first to be invited to participate in grant-funded studies, providing additional testing free of charge. This will be on first come first served basis based of date tested
7. This program’s primary aim is to systematically provide testing as affordably as possible to all sufferers throughout the world, most of whom currently do not have any testing opportunities whatsoever

Once the phenotype testing is underway, MeBO and Eliapharma intend to add genotype testing as well, hopefully, also with a good bulk rate, depending on the volume of phenotype (urine) tests already performed. We hope to progressively add other Body Odor related tests to our list of tests, so as to offer all sufferers from around the world a worthwhile, low cost “One Stop Shopping” to help each of us arrive at a proper diagnosis of each and all body odor conditions.

Anyone interested in participating in this program may email tmautest@meboresearch.org to place yourself on the waiting list with no obligation. As soon as the shipping costs are established, it will be announced in this blog and MeBO’s website, and we will get back to you when the testing process is initiated. Eliapharma have guaranteed that they will have the test-process set up within 3 weeks of the 30 kits being returned to them. As soon as arrangements are made with the Canadian and US Customs Agencies, we will contact another Customs Agency of whichever government sufferers asks us to consult. It will be on a first-come first-serve basis. So no matter what country you are in, if you wish to test, please send an email to tmautest@meboresearch.org with no obligation to participate. PLEASE NOTE WHAT COUNTRY YOU'RE IN ON THE EMAIL. Once we receive the negotiated shipping rate information from FedEx, we will contact you.

María de la Torre
President and Executive Director

maria.delatorre@meboresearch.org

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Related Posts:

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing and future research goals

MEBO and Eliapharma TMAU Testing Update 4

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 3

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE 2

INTERNATIONAL TMAU TESTING UPDATE

More about TMAU testing through MEBO Research

TMAU Test with Eliapharma through MEBO Research

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