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lyme results NEGATIVE!!??

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Posted 10/6/2010 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Result says I am negative. They were supposed to run IgG and IgM as well as titer and "reflex" to western blot. I went to pick up the test results from doc today (have appt next week) and it looks like they just ran "lyme AB". No mention of IgG or IgM. My AB was .19 and according to the "range" it has to be 1.10 for a positive. Can someone interpret?




ok here is exactly what the result reads:


Lyme Disease AB Screen w/Reflex to Wb
Lyme Disease Ab 0.19

index value interpretation
<=0.90 negative
0.91-1.09 equivocal
>1.10 positive

Post Edited (ShelETN) : 10/6/2010 5:42:16 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/6/2010 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Someone please correct me if I am wrong here -- but it sounds to me like you had the Elisa test, which is a completely invalid test. I think it misses around 50% or more positive Lyme cases. Most Drs (and labs) will run this test and only if it is positive, will they run the WB. Even the WB misses many positives, but you really should have a WB done. By Igenix, if possible. Still, even the Quest WB may indicate something, even tho it is not sensitive enough and neglects to test or read many Lyme specific bands.
Posted 10/6/2010 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
That's what I am fearing...that the ELISA test was done and NOT the WB which she did order because I saw her input it in the computer and she also read it aloud as she did "IgG and IgM Western blot and lyme titer". I have a feeling the lab just ran the test they wanted to......
Posted 10/6/2010 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Some labs have instructions to only run the Western blot if the ELISA shows some indication towards the positive. +Lyme is right, this is no way to find out if you have Lyme disease. A test from Igenix would be more informative, and a clinical diagnosis is really the only valid indicator.
Posted 10/7/2010 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
It took three testing sessions with Western blot until I got a positive result for Lyme--unfortunately even with the Western blot you get a lot of false negatives. If the symptom profile of Lyme fits what you have, I'd a couple times of testing until you get a positive result..Lyme is very hard to detect, and so are the various co-infections.
Posted 10/7/2010 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I never had a false negative Elisa, I've had 2 or 3 and they were high and +., but yes, I agree with the others, Elisa is not accurate, it depends what stage in the disease you are (this is totally my belief, I didn't read this anywehre); the WB is ran ONLY if your Elisa is +. Insurance companies don't want to pay for WB, Elisa is cheaper, so if you get a neg, too bad for you! I tested several times + on WB as follows:
+
--
--
+
+
+
+

As you can see, they are innacurate. My symptoms were milder when testing --, after 3 weeks of abx, but they did not go away, and that is why I kept bugging my GP for more tests. I guess I was lucky to get all these + tests, but unlucky that my GP mistaken them for false + and did not treat me. All my tests were at Quest.
Posted 10/7/2010 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
Tests for Lyme are ALL inaccurate! We all wish so very badly for validation from a positive test, but the truth is that many of us just never get them (even through Igenix)...some of us are lucky to get a few positive bands, showing some indication toward a positive...and we just keep hoping.

Just wanted to add -- in my case, the doctors proceeded with ordering several Western Blots after the ELISA came back NEGATIVE. I think they will use the Western Blot sometimes for confirmation of a positive ELISA, but also for a deeper look at what's going on if ELISA is negative and patient continues to display symptoms of infection.
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