2nd test came back negative

First question you need to ask yourself is why do you want/need a positive test. I promise I'm not being mean, but if you don't need it for insurance coverage, then it may be best to just go to a LLMD with a picture of the rash and explain what you have been through, symptoms, etc a good LLMD will start treatment anyway.

If you do need a positive test so insurance will cover it, there are a few things you can try. Some have found that if they use olive leaf extract for a few weeks it will help, or oil or oregano, or a deep tissue massage just before the blood draw - or some have had some success with something like cardio exercises just before the blood draw.

Some will get a positive test after starting some treatments, too.

There are several possible reasons why you are getting a negative test though:
(a) You may not have one of the strains that will get a positive on the currently available tests.
(b)Your immune system may be already too compromised to respond to the bacteria (Lyme lowers the immune response).


In the first few weeks, the immune system simply hasn't had enough time - but I believe you should be past that point in time if you had a bulls eye show up on May 10th.

Mike

Did you get a copy of the lab report? You should. Sometimes a regular MD will say the test was negative because that's what the lab typed out. But many of us are CDC negative, but have one or two positive results to Lyme unique bands that were tested. Its kind of being just a little pregnant.

Get the report and post the results here to see.

from the lab slip, it looks like IGG+IGM Serum, Reflex Western Blot (this is one that they did on Monday)

As Girlie said, the Reflex WB doesn't show individual bands, only gives a pos/neg response.

Have you already been given antibiotics? That can diminish the antibody response. I know you just got the test back, but when did you actually get the blood drawn? Antibodies can take 2-4 weeks to show up so you may still be developing them. Or they could already be developed and it's false negative because that has been documented in the literature. Look at Table 2 and the amount of patients that are negative for Lyme via ELISA western blot or both yet PCR positive https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3675506/

There are a variety of possible reasons why. Someone wrote this list http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/lyme-disease-support-forums/studies-research/10138868-seronegative-lyme-disease-27-reasons-why

I was given ABX's on day 3 after tick removal. This is when the rash started showing classic signs of the bulls eye. I was starting Doxy on May 12, 2x a day at 100MG's for 10 days. After finishing doxy on May 22, went back to GP on June 5 due to symptoms and put back on ABX Ceftin. Not on any ABX's for blood test just done on Monday.

Mike1977 said...
I was given ABX's on day 3 after tick removal. This is when the rash started showing classic signs of the bulls eye. I was starting Doxy on May 12, 2x a day at 100MG's for 10 days. After finishing doxy on May 22, went back to GP on June 5 due to symptoms and put back on ABX Ceftin. Not on any ABX's for blood test just done on Monday.

It doesn't matter if you were on antibiotics at the time. If you were on them before the test they may have dampened the antibody response. This is pretty well documented

You had a bullseye rash - that is proof. No further testing needed - unless it's for insurance purposes?


I wouldn't say the testing for co-infections is pointless.

If you do get a positive it gives you direction...instead of treating blindly.

It's a matter of how much $$ you want to spend. Many of us can't afford more testing - it sometimes becomes a choice between testing...and a LLMD appt...or the meds.

I just did WB for lyme...and was treated for lyme...and didn't start bartonella until a year later.
Was treating that for a year...and I decided to see what a pcr test showed...and I was positive for bart...negative for babesia.

It didn't give me any direction re: babesia...but certainly did for bart. I knew that i still needed to treat it.

I recently pulled a negative for bart...same lab...that means nothing...but had it been a positive...I would know for sure I needed to treat.

bluelyme...true and sad