Western Blot Experts please...

I have several question regarding the western blot test.

I know this test is used for many different infections.

I'm usually good a google searching and going down rabbit holes but when one tries to find specific answers to this it gets real messy (there may be reasons for that).

Questions:

1. how many bands does this test have? In general (totality), not for a specific infection.

2. Do these bands mean the same thing regardless of what you are testing for. Ex. Does band X mean the same thing regardless if you are testing for A or B?

3. What's the point of band 41 when it reacts with many other spirochete organisms, even spirochetes that totally healthy people have in their mouths? I believe it can also react with Mono, which most humans have had.

4. What's the point of having non-specific bands to an infection on the test? If they are not specific (at all) what's the point of having it listed on the test for that specific infection?

These are my questions, but most likely will have follow up questions.

Thanks.

Have you considered calling IgeneX? These are awesome questions and I would love to know the answer also.

I don't have an answer for you Dacarte, but also wonder something. What makes the Igenex test better than the others?

I had a western blot done at a regular lab, but not a single band showed up. I see from some of your early posts dacarte that you had the same experience, but then tested positive with Igenex. Were many of the same bands tested for on the "regular" test and only became positive with Igenex? Did you do any NK cell or CD57 cell testing? My understanding is that if these function markers are low it is hard to see anything from tests. Mine are really low

RedLabel said...
I don't have an answer for you Dacarte, but also wonder something. What makes the Igenex test better than the others?

I had a western blot done at a regular lab, but not a single band showed up. I see from some of your early posts dacarte that you had the same experience, but then tested positive with Igenex. Were many of the same bands tested for on the "regular" test and only became positive with Igenex? Did you do any NK cell or CD57 cell testing? My understanding is that if these function markers are low it is hard to see anything from tests. Mine are really low

My testing history is:

1. initial westernblot - Zero bands. It was too early in the active infection. Lyme can takes multiple months to get a band or even treatment has to start first.

2. After multiple months and treatment, I took Igenex and had a Positive IFA, and band 41 and another lyme specific band (cant remember).

3. this time I took a non-igenex WB and the same Igenex bands came up.

So there's often this delay (for a variety of reasons). It's why so many people go undiagnosed because when one initially feels bad and lymie the test can bring up absolutely nothing. It wasn't until 4 months later and feeling 80% better did the WB show lyme specific bands for me.