posted
Just got the results from my lyme blood test. According to the scale anything over 1.10 is positive. Mine was 3.88. The dr. who ordered the test (a surgeon who was treating an abcess that he thought might have been started as a tick bite) said that his guess was that I've had lyme's for quite a while.
So my question is: does the higher the number mean the longer you've had it?
Posts: 115 | From Central PA | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Can you tell us the name of the blood test?
There are several different ones out there. This sounds like a PCR? Is that right?
Posts: 503 | From Alberta, Canada | Registered: Jun 2009
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
I think you may have had an ELISA test. If so, the fact that you got a positive is a SHOCK! That almost never happens as that particular test is very unreliable (it almost always gives a false negative).
Your question is an interesting one in that I have never heard of a correlation between a certain number and the length of time a person has been infected. Generally, I think, the higher the number, the more antibodies you have present in your blood at the particular time of the draw. This number can fluctuate.
I hope I have given you accurate information.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Now you need to find yourself a good LLMD.
I suspect it was a tick that had burrowed under
the skin. I have heard of this before. A
gentleman had one on his back. It had encased in
a cyst and he died from infection. After they
removed the cyst. It is subject to conjecture
that it could have possible been prevented if the
cyst had been removed without rupture. Not so in his case.
While the surgeon will direct you to starting
meds. It is vital you seek a LLMD who will treat
appropriately meaning not by the IDSA guidelines.
You can learn a lot here searching for symptoms and
hopefully find some new friends to help. Good Luck.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
I can't seem to find any reference to a name other than lyme disease screen. After the resutlts it reads "Due to recommendations by the fda, all positive or equivocal borellia burgdorferi antibody eia tests will be followed by the western blot...."
Then on the next page it lists a bunch of stuff under IGG western blot (41 kd igg band reactive) then IGM western blots (41 kd igm band reactive).
Since the surgeon was not familiar with the tests specifically he couldn't explain them other than to be surprised that it was positive at all.
Posts: 115 | From Central PA | Registered: Jul 2009
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
You really need a good LLMD.
You can go to the Seeking a Doctor board here and post for a LLMD in PA.
I sent you a private message.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
You got an ELISA test which was positive, followed by a Western Blot which was positive too. Now those ordinary western blots run by ordinary labs only test for a few bands, but Igenex tests for more bands.
The western blot is the better one of these two tests. Usually people here only have the western blot show up positive with a band or several bands.
And, in ordinary western blots they do not report if there is a band but it is weaker than the reference band.
There are explanations of western blot results here on the forum. Were there more results other than the 41 bands? According to the forum here the one positive 41 band , IgG or IgM, alone, says you are positive for lyme borrelia.
Sometimes very positive results on teh ELISA test do not correlate with the severity of the infection, on the contrary, people who are fine can have a huge ELISA result and very ill patients often or usually have a negative result.
That is because lyme borrelia lowers the immune system. The sicker you are, the worse off is your immune syetem. Yours seems okay. that is my interpretaion, I hope you get more answers.
Posts: 366 | From Europe | Registered: Nov 2008
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