I have some confusion about my test results

I'm not confused whether or not I have lyme and co. I'm confused by the combination of results. So I got my Igenex results in.

I'm positive for lyme in the IFA test. This test checks for antibodies against lyme. I have a positive 31 and 41 band and the rest are negative. The western blot checks for what specific antibodies they are. "Only" having 31 and 41 for Igenex is indeterminate (not negative).

So my confusion is how can IFA show positive, meaning it found lyme antibodies but then when the other test tries to tell you which one specifically, it had a hard time finding several and "only" a couple?

Once again I'm not confuse if I have lyme or not, I do with a positive IFA and positive Ehrlicha and a positive mycoplasma co-infection (plus all the lyme symptoms I had the past 6 months), so it's pretty clear.

But just a little confused how one test says "oh yea we found enough lyme antibodies in your system" and then the other test says "but we don't know which ones they are".

Not that it really matters in the end but it just shows you how much farther we need to go with modern medical science.

I understand why it's considered IND. I'm just more talking about why doesn't the western blot then have an easier time finding more bands, when someone definitely has lyme, from the positive IFA, positive co-infection and symptoms. How can the human body have all these things going on but the test still has a hard time.

Strange how not great testing really is.

From my understanding, the IFA/ELISA can be positive due to things other than Lyme. For example, EBV.

I had the exact same results as you. IFA 80, western blot IND. I am testing high for myco pneum and EBV.

Bluelyme, what microscope do you have?

I'm just in the process of getting one.

k07 said...
From my understanding, the IFA/ELISA can be positive due to things other than Lyme. For example, EBV.

I had the exact same results as you. IFA 80, western blot IND. I am testing high for myco pneum and EBV.

That is true because IFA can be used to look for other things (meaning the same testing method ). However if it's lyme test then it's looking for lyme antibodies. And if someone has myco and erlichia then it's pretty clear it's lyme the IFA is picking up (a coincidence would just be too much).

I guess it was sort of a rhetorical question in the end since no one is really going to know.

Post Edited (dacarte3) : 6/17/2016 10:57:25 AM (GMT-6)

hi there, an elissa followed by a western blot is not the best way to get an accurate lyme diagnosis.

I had an elissa followed by a western blot by quest lab that was negative. I then went to a lyme literate md and he ran an igenex test which is PCR testing looking for the bacteria's DNA which is more accurate. My test was positive based on band 31 and 41. Lyme is mostly a clinical diagnosis even without a positive test. there is so many false negatives.

2 years later while still in treatment my new lyme doctor ran a second igenex test and it was definitely positive. Many lyme lab tests come back definitely positive after you are in treatment. We also learned then I have an active virus and mycoplasma.

also, blue lyme tell me more about having a microscope. I am sitting here going " duh " I am a RN and I made straight As in microbiology and loved it. I don't why I have not thought to buy one? I learned how to mix up food grade hydrogen peroxide and gave it to myself from mixing to my own venipuncture. please do not do this if you are not a health professional. Please tell me more.

1000daisies- they don't always show even under the dark field microscope. Also if they do show, its not always definitive exactly what "type" you are seeing. The lab tests are supposed to do that. I had the dark field microscope performed.

Traveler said...
Exactly, Krimpet. Not only that, they wouldn't know what type of spirochete it was, only that it's a spirochete. There are other spirochetal infections as well, such as Relapsing Fever, Pintas and Yaws, and Syphilis.

The blood has to have quite a bit of a specific bacteria in order to find some in one single blood draw, and since it doesn't take a lot of bacteria to cause great illness with these infections, it's not always possible to find them by microscopy.

Yup agreed.
That being said, if you have Lyme-like symptoms, have a history of possible exposure, and see spirochetes in your blood... well you can make your own determinations from that.

Plus you can look for Bartonella and Babesia as well, and a good microscope costs half of an IGENEX Lyme + Coinfection panel.

Also, it's just a cool hobby :)