Posted 5/4/2017 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Also, truth be told, neither PCPs or ID docs are qualified to interpret your test results accurately or diagnose you appropriately. This is why Lyme specialists have emerged - I hope you can find one to partner with. Although as girlie mentioned, once you learn how, it's not difficult to interpret the IGeneX.
Check out the info in the "New to Lyme?" thread about what the bands indicate and why the CDC requires the labs to use a minimum number of specific bands in order to report positive results--this requirement is based on the use of interpretation criteria that was actually devised for disease surveillance models used to track trends---not diagnosis.
This is the Case Surveillance data that is intended to be very strict in its interpretation and unnecessary for diagnosis. In fact, it leads to more false negatives than accurate diagnosis, which is one of the few reasons the CDC testing methodologies and tests have a 50% accuracy rate.
The CDC's website includes a statement directing medical professionals that the tests are not to be used solely for diagnosis and has labs place a disclaimer on the lab results. However, it has yet to effectively explain why the tests are still being so strictly interpreted for diagnosis as most MDs still can't seem to interpret them correctly. Most LLMDs can. We can. You can...
-p