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Trying to figure out IGm and IGg lab results

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Posted 3/26/2014 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
so last night I was helping someone on the forum figure out their lab results, and now I myself am confused over my own kids'!!

I understand my two youngest - bc they have IgM bands

but I can't understand why my older daughter would have the following:

her serum Elisa came out "borderline" (index 0.114 and she has 0.124)
ok, so it could be positive, but I know Elisa can come out with false positives, so this test isn't really reliable, correct?

secondly - she came out with IGM nonspecific bands 20 and 64 - neither one are specific to Lyme

and she has IGG bands 41, 58, and 34 - in which case 41 and 34 are lyme specific

so here is my question - it says IGG can be a sign of current infection or past. If she does have some IGM activity - then that means she does indeed have something going on right? And if she shows IGg bands specific to Lyme, then she does have lyme bacteria, which means she does have a current infection, right?

she is tricky bc she is not exhibiting symptoms like my other two. The only few things out of the ordinary that has happened to her are - she had a sore throat for a few weeks in December (I thought it was the dry air) and she has been having bladder issues (which is what made me worry about lyme). she also has been having trouble sleeping - but she's been that way on and off all of her life, and also has an extreme sensitivity to smell (more than usual)

so what do you think? I am just confused bc I don't understand the IGg, how could it be either a past or a current infection? I originally thought IGg was old and IGm was new. But when I researched it I found I was wrong. Any thoughts? thanks!
Posted 3/26/2014 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
I've heard about IgM meaning recent infection and IgG maybe a longer infection, but
but the new llmd (as much as she kind of worries me, I mean about not being experienced enough and not thinking a kid could test false negative) she did make sense with other stuff.

one thing she said, simply stated, was that with lyme IgM and IgG can't be counted on to mean the same thing they would in other infections, (b/c of the bacteria hiding, and suppressing the immune system, etc.)

so I don't know so much about it, but I've decided maybe the IgM and IgG shouldn't be something to wonder about too much.

but, I'm really still right there with you wondering! b/c my son had stronger activity on the IgG than the IgM, yet his symptoms just started last fall too.
Posted 3/26/2014 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
yes - but your son's situation makes more sense bc he has IGm 41 - like my other two kids.

and also some bands of igm can convert to igg within weeks. so I really don't know. you may be right about not paying so much attention to it!!
Posted 3/26/2014 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
It is dependent on an individual's immune system. IgM can just mean the body sees the infection, it's active. It doesn't mean new, that's a false hood to a degree because the immune system doesn't always behave the way it's supposed to. Also I have has a sore throat for years.... Kept being told it was allergies which it was not. Typically IgM is earlier but nothing with lyme and cos is typical.
Posted 3/26/2014 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Oh and furthermore I wonder if IgG could be a past lyme infection that's old, and then IgM popping as a reinfect ion in some individuals, maybe even a different strain..... Something to chew on, not necessarily in your daughters case it just got me thinking.
Posted 3/26/2014 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
that's interesting. so based on my daughter's results - she's positive too right? no matter whether its igg or igm, if the bands are lyme specific, then its lyme, and that's that, right?
just confirming this bc I don't speak to the dr til tomorrow and its killing me to make sure I am right on my assumption.
Posted 3/26/2014 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
Yes
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