The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT)? Names/Brand examples?

I googled it. All I got was Melissa LTT and Nordic Labs LTT.

The Nordic Laabs website in Denmark, calls it an Eli spot test.

But they explained it in terms that made it sound identical to what was called the i-Spot test in America.

The i-Spot test from Wisconsin USA examined what your T cells did in the presence of Lyme bacteria. Unfortunately, this test will also not be accurate. If you do not have healthy T cell levels. They even mentioned this in their test description. Unfortunately, this lab did not go out of business because of poor testing procedures they went out of business because of some type of money laundering or maybe it was tax evasion, I don’t remember. The owner did not think that business laws applied to him.

Post Edited (astroman) : 7/4/2023 2:40:55 PM (GMT-8)

Thanks, Igenex has certainly expanded their test menu in the last five years. If these were easier to obtain, with out a costly LLMD, ordering it, I'd try this again but from Igenex.

"i spoke to the lab director about it - and he said that because my CD57+ was very low - that was evidence that there is some form of immune suppression - and in these cases they often have negative results from LTT. "

Exactly. That is why when someone is repeating information that says the CD57 test is "useless", I remind them that it isnt. Its accuracy debate comes down to it being an average of SEVERAL immune cells: Several types of Natural killer cells and "T" cells. If its low and you want more accuracy, then go further down the immune cell testing hole and you WILL find what is low and what is not (T's, natural killers types ect all can be tested individually). But testing these tests volume, not strength; which are two different things.

If they remain low, that's were it can get confusing depending on what symptoms you do or don't have. Apparently autoimmune conditions can even cause low immune cells.

All I can say about this that currently in Germany the LTT from the "IMD Berlin" is currently considered the best Test for lyme there is regarding sensitivity and specificity(?) (It is said to be in the high 90ties)

Ever Higher than arminlabs.

That is what I am told more so often. Even my current German LLMD switched to IMD Berlin

that's kind of the issue Blazer - every test manufacturer that makes a Lyme test generally claims its sensitivity is up there around 90% or more - often publishing their own data to support this number

after all - its hard to sell a test unless it says a high number like this on the tin.

but when these test kits are tested independently - very different figures are often found

there are a lager number of ins and outs on how the validation testing is done that can explain these differences
eg
-what borrelia are used - (wild strains of borrelia from ticks or patients - or multiple lab grown strains - or a single lab strain? ) or what proteins from these borrelia -

-or what patients are used

-or how the sensitivity calculations are done? (these are typically very problematic when - like with lyme - there is no agreed gold standard to use as the denominator in the calculation - so compared to culture? PCR? western blot - western blot meeting CDC criteria, etc etc )

i have been in touch with test manufacturers and test labs to try to get some answers - e.g. fill in gaps in their published validation papers - and found its a surprisingly complicated business with a great many variables. it rapidly became evident that each decision on these variables could influence the final specificity or sensitivity number dramatically - eg you could make the results 20% or 95% depending on how a person designed the trial and chose the various steps. even if there is no intent the distort the outcome these choices still impact the final number dramatically.

i have not looked at looked at IMD berlin in detail - so i would just say that these are general principles that apply to all test houses and test validations

BlazerGermany said...
yes garzie it is best to stay sceptical. i wasn't trying to advertise this laboratory in berlin, it was only for the sake of repeating what i have been told more than one time

Greetings

yep - understood - and all input, opinions and perspectives are welcome - we actually do not hear much about IMD berlin - and we have members all over the world - so any news is welcome.

i was just attempting to put the performance claims in a broader context