Venturis Clinic in Oklahoma City offers RGCC testing and SOT (Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy) for adults with chronic, infection-associated illness. That includes people living with Lyme disease and tick-borne co-infections, long COVID, mold illness, and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) who want to find out whether a persistent viral or bacterial infection is part of their picture. This page explains what the test looks for, how SOT is made and given, what the published research does and doesn’t show, and its regulatory status.

What RGCC testing is

RGCC is a laboratory group based in Greece and Switzerland that performs specialized blood testing. For infection-focused testing, your blood sample is analyzed with molecular methods that look for genetic material from specific viruses and bacteria and identify the strain. That result is what RGCC uses to design an individualized SOT.

Organisms RGCC has listed as available include:

Viruses: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex 1 and 2, HHV-6, varicella-zoster, and Coxsackie A and B, among others
Lyme-related bacteria: multiple Borrelia species
Co-infections: Bartonella and Babesia species
Other tick-borne bacteria: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Rickettsia rickettsii

The list changes over time, so we confirm what’s currently available when we order. RGCC’s published SOT lists do not include mold, mycotoxins, or the COVID-19 virus.

What SOT is

SOT uses short, lab-made strands of genetic material (oligonucleotides) designed to match a sequence found in the specific organism identified in your blood. The idea, known as antisense or RNA interference, is to bind to the organism’s genetic messages and interfere with the proteins it needs to multiply.

Antisense technology itself is established. Several antisense drugs are FDA-approved for other conditions. SOT is not one of them, and each SOT is produced individually for one patient.

Important regulatory information

SOT is not approved by the FDA to treat any condition, including Lyme disease, long COVID, mold illness, or MCAS. It is produced by RGCC outside the United States. RGCC testing is a specialty test and is not used as a standard diagnostic test for Lyme disease or other infections. If you haven’t had standard testing for a suspected infection, we’ll talk through that as well.

What the research shows

One peer-reviewed study has looked directly at SOT for infections. Researchers from RGCC published results in Infectious Disease Reports in 2022 on 115 patients with EBV, herpes simplex, or Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). They measured the amount of each organism’s genetic material in blood before and after SOT and reported statistically significant decreases: after one or two administrations for Lyme disease, and after two or three for the viruses.

That study has real limits you should know about:

There was no control or placebo group, and no blinding.
The authors work for the company that makes SOT.
It measured lab values, not symptoms such as fatigue, pain, or brain fog.
Systematic safety data were not reported.

The authors describe their findings as preliminary. Larger, independent, controlled studies haven’t been published. We can’t tell you SOT will improve how you feel, and we’ll say so plainly during your consultation.

How the process works at Venturis Clinic

Discovery call and consultation. We review your history, prior labs, tick bites or exposures, and how your symptoms started.
Blood draw. Your sample is collected at our Oklahoma City clinic and shipped to RGCC.
Results review. We go over whether an organism was identified and whether SOT is a reasonable option for you, alongside other routes, including referral when that makes more sense.
SOT infusion, if you choose it. Your SOT is produced for you, shipped to the clinic, and given as an IV infusion administered by clinic staff.
Follow-up. Repeat testing is typically discussed several months later to see whether levels have changed.

You’ll get pricing before anything is ordered, along with an estimated timeline for results and production.

Who may be considered

Adults with a history of Lyme disease or a tick-borne co-infection who still have symptoms
People with long COVID or other post-viral illness where a reactivated virus such as EBV is a concern
People with mold illness or MCAS whose exposures have been addressed and who still have an open question about infection
Anyone who wants infection testing as one part of a broader evaluation, not a stand-alone answer

When SOT isn’t the right fit

A new tick bite with fever, rash, or feeling acutely ill. This needs prompt standard care. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis, both seen regularly in Oklahoma, can become serious quickly.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding. SOT hasn’t been studied in these groups.
Expecting SOT to replace your other care. It isn’t a substitute for treatment from your other providers.

Possible side effects

Reported effects include bruising or soreness at the IV site and temporary flu-like reactions such as fatigue, body aches, or headache in the days after infusion. As with any infusion, allergic-type reactions are possible. Because no systematic safety data have been published, the full range of short- and long-term effects isn’t known. We review risks with you before treatment.

When to get emergency care

Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, chest pain, or fainting. Seek same-day care for fever with a rash after a tick bite, new confusion, or a severe headache.

Learn More About SOT and RGCC Testing

Serving Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and all of Oklahoma

Venturis Clinic sees patients from Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, including Tulsa, and from across Oklahoma. Your first conversation can happen by phone. The blood draw and any infusion take place at our Oklahoma City clinic at 7917 N May Ave, Suite B. Patients coming from Tulsa should plan for roughly a 100-mile drive each way.

Ticks are part of life in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Department of Health notes that Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and anaplasmosis are seen regularly in the state.

Related pages: lab testing at Venturis Clinic, long COVID, mold illness and CIRS, MCAS, and Epstein-Barr virus. For a condition-by-condition look, read SOT therapy for Lyme, long COVID, mold, and MCAS.

Frequently asked questions

Is SOT FDA-approved? No. SOT is not FDA-approved to treat any condition.

Does SOT treat mold illness or MCAS? No. SOT isn’t designed against mold, mycotoxins, or mast cells. It only comes into the conversation if testing finds a coexisting viral or bacterial infection.

Is SOT an antibiotic? No. It works through a different mechanism and is not a replacement for prompt standard treatment of a new tick-borne illness.

How many infusions are needed? In the one published study, decreases in lab measurements were reported after one or two administrations for Lyme disease and two or three for viruses. Your plan depends on your results and follow-up testing.

Do I need to live in Oklahoma City? No. Patients come from Tulsa and across Oklahoma. The blood draw and infusion take place at our Oklahoma City clinic.

Does insurance cover RGCC testing or SOT? Because SOT isn’t FDA-approved, insurance generally doesn’t cover it. We review costs with you before anything is ordered.

Want to talk through your options? Book a free 15-minute discovery call →

SOT is not FDA-approved for the treatment of any condition. RGCC testing is not a substitute for standard diagnostic testing. Individual results vary. This page is for educational purposes and is not a guarantee of outcome.

By Alvin Philipose, DC, ICCP

Sources

Apostolou P, Iliopoulos A, Beis G, Papasotiriou I. Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy (SOT) as a potential treatment for viral infections and Lyme disease: preliminary results. Infect Dis Rep. 2022;14(6):824–836. doi:10.3390/idr14060084
Oklahoma State Department of Health. Tickborne and Mosquitoborne Diseases.

SOT Therapy in Oklahoma City