VERY IMPORTANT:False positive lyme serology due to syphilis: report of 6 cases and review of the literature.
Acta Clin Belg. 2011 Jan-Feb;66(1):58-9. False positive lyme serology due to syphilis: report of 6 cases and review of the literature.
Naesens R, Vermeiren S, Van Schaeren J, Jeurissen A.
Department of Microbiology, GasthuisZusters Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium. [email protected] Abstract
A 44-year-old man presented with visual field defects. Ophthalmoscopy revealed papilloedema of the left eye.
Neuroborreliosis was suspected and serum was positively being tested using VIDAS* Lyme screen II (bioMerieux Vitek Inc).
However, confirmatory testing using the Borrelia VlsE C6 titre was negative.
Western Blotting on serum and cerebrospinal fluid could not confirm the possible diagnosis of neuroborreliosis.
VDRL and TPPA testing was positive, and finally, the diagnosis of neurosyphilis was established.
We subsequently screened our database on patients with positive VIDAS Lyme screening and negative confirmatory testing by Western blot, and found another 5 cases in which Lyme screening was false positive due to cross-reactivity with Treponema pallidum antibodies.
Our data show that in patients with positive Lyme screening and negative confirmatory testing, performance of lues serology should be considered. ----------------------------------- With the reports of pos. Syphilis in asymptomatic students in Africa I was worried it was not Syph. but actually Borrelia.
We know the WB in non confirmatory. But I wanted to see if this was happening elsewhere. It is. At least with a Syphilis dx. they will be afforded treatment in agreement with the severity of need. Whereas in Lyme they are cured in the 21 days the IDSA says is needed.
-------------------- 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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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
I am gonarrhea(don't even care how you spell it) negative. Tested negative for Aids virus too early on.
What am I talking about, during them dx periods LabCorp said negative lyme too?????
Pam
I'm sorry Pinelady. You're being serious and I'm trying to laugh to keep from crying. Bad bad emotional day when I shed tears.
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6479 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I cry plenty right along with you maps...I say we all order up this test and see if we can get some real treatment....
-------------------- 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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Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
So does this mean that a person with actual Bb could have a false positive on a Syphilis test, too???
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4167 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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onbam
Unregistered
posted
Razzle--Yes, I've known people for whom that was the case.
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