gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
Hi All,
From my understanding this test is an indicator of how long you may have/had lyme.
Would a count of 45 indicate I am slightly below normal?
Can anyone who has had this test offer some feedback?
Thank you!
Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
The CD57 shouldn't be used to determine lyme alone. You can do a search and look up CD57 and you will find that there are MANY posts about the topic.
Some people and doctors have found that it's not a huge indicator of how well they are doing during treatment. I'm sitting at 9 right now and have been for over four months.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
LabCorp test limits are 60-360. Mine was 51.
Posts: 136 | From Eastern, Pa | Registered: Sep 2007
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ByronSBell 2007
Unregistered
posted
over 140 is good, by labcorp's test
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
uh, mine is 73, so that's not good, huh?
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
quote:Originally posted by randibear: uh, mine is 73, so that's not good, huh?
Better than some of us!!! Mine's only 9. First time I had it tested it was 18.
But yeah, yours is a little low.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
It seems this test also has some variations.
I actually did some research and it appears that according to Dr. Burrascano's guidelines if the CD count is not in the normal range when you end, the a relapse will almost certainly occur. Below 60 is considered chronic lyme.
And, he says the number will not progressively increase as treatment proceeds but will remain low until the lyme is controlled and then it will jump.
According to Health Centers of America: (and I have no idea if this is a reliable source)
Low CD57 occurs in chronic Lyme or when the disease has been active for over 1 year. The count reflects the degree of infection.
It is not a diagnostic test but is used as a marker for Lyme being active. Test done by LabCorp.
>200 is normal < 20 severe illness 0-60 is seen in chronic Lyme disease > 60 Lyme activity indicates improvement
So, my question is "when can I stop treatment?"! Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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posted
Can anyone shed some light on this for me? I was diagnosed with lyme four months ago. I know I've had it for five years, though as I remember a bulls' eye rash and a summertime flu in 2003. My Dr. ordered the CD57 test for me and it came back at 204. She said this is the highest she's ever seen in any of her lyme patients. I also have babs and erlichia. Is this number (from LabCorp) accurate? I don't understand how it can be so high when I've had lyme untreated for so long. My symptoms are not too severe, though. Any thoughts about this?
Posts: 63 | From Humboldt County | Registered: Jul 2008
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Angelica
Unregistered
posted
I have heard that a high CD 57 test score could just mean that you have co-infections. Dr. S. told me what a fabulous test score I had too but he left out the part about co-infections. My score declined with treatment.
A lot of posters here have concluded how you are feeling is a better indicator about how you are doing then the test.
I paid to get this test done twice out of pocket. I personally feel it was a waste of money for myself but I just did what I was told to do. I have gotten wiser about picking and choosing what tests I want to pay for since then.
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quote:Originally posted by lymer: I know I've had it for five years, though as I remember a bulls' eye rash and a summertime flu in 2003. My Dr. ordered the CD57 test for me and it came back at 204.
That's why I think it is a very flawed test. Maybe it IS because you have coinfections. Who knows?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96237 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Thanks for the replies. Has anyone else had a similar experience with having a high cd57 at the start of treatment (mine is 204)? Did it stay the same or go down after coinfections were addressed? Does anyone know why that would be the case? Why do coinfections make your cd57 test score high? It seems to me that if anything it would make the score lower.
Posts: 63 | From Humboldt County | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Lymer, what were your most recent Lyme test results?? Was the test run recently? I'm just curious.....
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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gemofnj
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15551
posted
If you read up on Dr. Stricker, the guy who invented the test, he states that if you have a normal cd57 level, you are sick from something other than lyme, re: coinfections.
You can check with your doctor, but I dont think coinfections cause any reaction to that test and that is why your results are normal.
Your treatment will be based on your symptoms and not the test results. As with most lyme tests.
It's frustrating isnt it?? Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008
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I had a lyme test (igenex western blot) done four months ago. It showed a positive IGM with a positive band on 41 and 34 and a negative IGG. My coinfections test showed that I am positive for babs and erlichia, but not bart. I will read up on Dr. Stricker. I guess I'm still confused, though because I am sick with lyme...lyme and coinfections. Are the coinfections somehow giving a false cd57 number showing that it's higher than it really is or is it really and truly high? Thanks everybody.
Posts: 63 | From Humboldt County | Registered: Jul 2008
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