posted
My LLMD recently did blood slides on me, using blood from a finger-prick. 2 times, 2 weeks apart.
I have a stubborn case of babs and she wanted to see if I had any other type of blood parasite. None of my Igenex babs tests ever came out positive.
She told me yesterday it's babesia duncani, and my load appeared very high. She's doing this in conjunction with a specialty lab in MD. Considering I've never had a positive test, I thought this test seemed like a big step in diagnostics.
poppy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5355
posted
Using blood slides to identify parasites like babesia and malaria were the norm until we got all these fancy high-falutin and less labor intensive tests.
Posts: 2888 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96172 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
Finger stick is more likely to find Babesia, too. The parasites infect the red blood cells which then adhere to the inner walls of capillary beds. There are very few parasitized RBCs in general circulation.
This happens all over the body, which is why our organs become so compromised. Very restricted blood flow and poor oxygen delivery.
B. duncani is difficult to gt rid of, but congrats on the positive lab. Knowing what to treat is half the battle!
posted
Yes, I'm on babesia meds, on coartem at the time of testing. Was on mepron before that. She tested twice, about 2 weeks apart. She said she saw the babesia clearly on the slides and "it looks like babesia duncani", and that I had a heavy load. I don't think DNA sequencing has been done.
She's intently interested in babesia and has been doing a lot of research. She did the blood slides for her own research and didn't charge me anything.
beths
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18864
posted
'The Babesia FISH test detects the specific ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of the Babesia genus (e.g. B. microti, B. duncani) in the blood of infected patients.'
So, does that mean a blood test can determine which type of babs it is?
Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
I am hoping that Bea will see this and perhaps contact me - I am looking for people to help with a Lymenet study I am doing...Pam
Posts: 360 | From New York | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
I am hoping that Bea will see this and perhaps contact me - I am looking for people to help with a Lymenet study I am doing...Pam
Posts: 360 | From New York | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
psr1 -- Please contact at the email address below.
Seibertbb (at) yahoo.com
Include the word lyme in the subject line
------------------------------------------------ For anyone who does not receive the ILADS newsletter (do not need to be a member -- just sign up at ILADS.org)
The last item of the current Spring newsletter is an OpEd piece regarding babesia.
-------------------------------------------- Beths -- yes a bloodtest can determine the species of babesia -- but it can get very expensive.
If using PCR tests -- must order the test for the specific babesia strain -- babesia microti or babesia WA-1 (babesia duncani). Several labs have tests for babesia microti. But I am pretty sure that only Clongen and F lab can test for duncani or other strains. This was one of the issues that hubby ran into during his final hospitalization -- the hospital did not know where or how to test for anything except babesia microti.
Actually I think IGeneX (the Fish test) also tests for b duncani. For other strains in my opinion F lab has the best testing -- but it is very expensive.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Igenex has specific testing. They tested me for 3 test, babesia micronti, babesia duncani, and i think a fish test. They said I was definitely positive for duncani.
Posts: 673 | From CA | Registered: Dec 2011
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