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What is the ispot lyme test?

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Posted 10/21/2016 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
In a nutshell? I keep hearing about it.
Posted 10/21/2016 7:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Jenny, so I'm no scientist but I did take biology in high school... lol this is how I think it goes... We have these cells called "memory T cells", they are a type of white blood cell and part of our immune system response. I'm going to start personifying a lot here because I don't remember a lot of this stuff LOL. Basically these cells kind of memorize all of the different viruses that go through our bodies. If they haven't seen the virus before they kind of sit around and fail to warn all of the other types of white blood cells (the one's that do the killing, we have more than one type of white blood cell) and then boom, you're sick with a cold or you have the flu... If the memory T cells HAVE seen this virus before then they get right on it and are like "hey guys, somethings wrong here!!". Not my best explanation of this all haha, I did pass this course with honors but goes to show what Lyme can really do to your memory I guess...

You know how you never get the same strain of a cold or flu twice? This is due to the memory T cells.

SO, basically the lab takes your blood sample and introduces it to the B. Burgdorferi to measure your T cells response to the spirochete.

Just going to throw in here that I may have aspects of this wrong, or I may have it all wrong... lol. I actually have a couple of pages from my LLND explaining the process, I will double check...
Posted 10/21/2016 7:14 AM (GMT 0)
Wow klwxo95, I had no idea, so I'm pretty impressed, and actually learned a couple of things I never knew, like never getting the same strain of cold or flu twice, and the difference jobs/kinds of white blood cells.

"Personifying" is for me, the best way to learn.
Posted 10/21/2016 7:18 AM (GMT 0)
Any idea how the ispot is different from the Elispot that Armin Labs in Germany does?
Posted 10/21/2016 7:22 AM (GMT 0)
lol I felt it was the best way to explain..

I remember when I was learning about the white blood cells I watched a ton of videos on youtube that are great at explaining how this system works.
Posted 10/21/2016 7:25 AM (GMT 0)
Girlie, I have heard of those tests but I haven't looked into the science behind them. I used to be such a science nut, if I didn't have such bad Lyme brain I would totally be on top of this lol.
Posted 10/21/2016 7:27 AM (GMT 0)
Actually, I just took a quick look at their website and believe they use the same method
Posted 10/21/2016 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
What girlie asked - "Any idea how the ispot is different from the Elispot that Armin Labs in Germany does?"

That is the million dollar question , asked here before too. Its still an unanswered question.

We had a very well participted post about this same thing last month t cells and B-cells (thier cousin).

- T cells are confusing since most online info says they react to virusis, and we know through these abouve lyme tests that they do indeed react to or are reacted by BB lyme bacteria.

I've had the i-Spot 3 yrs ago (printed that odd way too) from the Wisconson Lab, but not the Elispot from Germany. It basicaly said to the effect, that something knocked over my T cell Army. They would not do what they were suposed to do (according to the test lab) in the company of the labs' BB Lyme bacteria live species.

So although much printed past info says T cells are for viruses, these companies know otherwise that they do react to Lyme BACTERIA somehow. the ISpot web site says how if you desire written details.

Post Edited (astroman) : 10/21/2016 8:40:32 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/21/2016 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
The only problem with the iSpot Lyme test is that these memory T cells can only tell you if you have had B. Burgdoferi in your body before. They cannot alert you of a current infection, but since it is assumed that if you have indeed had the spirochetes in your system before, but you have never treated, then you can be almost 100% positive that there is a current infection. So this would not be a good test for someone who is wondering if they still have the infection after treating it or for someone who has been re-infected with a new tick bite.

I had never treated for Lyme and was new to the world of Lyme, so this was a good test for me.
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