Here's an over view of the testing methods (taken from their site) that confirmed ???? my latest and
negative blood results:
Sunrise Medical Laboratories, in conjunction with Imugen, is pleased to offer Tick-Borne Disease Testing. These tests are designed to provide clinicians with unquestionably superior but not widely available testing techniques to aid in the diagnosis of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
The Lyme Disease test panel includes a set of assays, which are highly sensitive in early infection and extremely accurate in laboratory diagnosis of Lyme meningitis, carditis and arthritis.
The antibody capture test is used in association with immunoblotting (Western blots) to provide patterns of antibody isotype responses that are characteristic with the different stages of infection with B. burgdorferi. Acute and convalescent testing is also available because all specimens are archived for 6 years. Archived specimen testing when combined with Imugen's quantification of the immunoglobulin levels provides the clinician with unique and unprecedented aids in making stage-specific diagnosis.
Why is Imugen testing different from the ELISA or IFA methods?
This strategy does not rely on a single test to support a diagnosis of Lyme based on a single marker for infection. Rather, Imugen uses a combination of antibody capture assays and Western blots to provide diagnostic support based on a series of highly specific markers.
The antibody capture test employs an antibody reagent to bind and concentrate immunoglobulins of a specific class (IgM, IgG and IgA) prior to reaction with antigen and enzyme immunoassay. Along with the Western blots, this information provides a more detailed and comprehensive basis for diagnosis and eliminates the need to "confirm" positive or equivocal results with a separate Western blot.
Why should I use Imugen testing?
Recent studies demonstrate that Imugen’s testing protocols correctly diagnosed 91% of well characterized (e.g. culture proven) early Lyme disease cases while commercial IgM and IgG ELISA identified only 55% of cases and the IgM Western blot alone identified only 64% of these cases. Furthermore, this testing program unlike other testing strategies distinguishes active Lyme from past infection as well as recently vaccinated patients.
I looked at my test yesterday at my doctor's office--and there was not a single band that showed a positive or even an indeterminant.
Still....my doctor does not rule out Lyme since many of my symptoms did resolve, got better--- or new ones cropped up-- while on Doxycycline for the six weeks I have taken it so far.
He suggested that I again stop taking it-- for a week or longer-- and see how I feel. If a single symptom comes back, then I am to start back on it and we will go from there and he will refer me to another doctor....one of the better LLMD's in my area who unfortunately doesn't take insurance--- as they usually don't.
I've already made an appointment with one of these doctors-- long waiting list! .....in case I do need to see him and get tested with IgenX.
At any rate, my thyroid, cholesterol, SED rate and other test results came back well within good/normal ranges. All except for vit D. I am low there.
So....we'll see. Comments welcome of course!!!
(((hugs))) to all !