Jake and Jordan are still very ill. They are doing better on IV Primaxin.
I'm concerned about co-infections. When they were 1st diagnosed, Jordan tested positive for Bartonella, Babesia, and Chlamydia Pneumonie. Jake tested positive for Babesia.
They have been treated for a long time for Lyme and co-infections.
Earlier this month, they were tested at Bowen. Both were negative for co-infections. How accurate do you think the co-infection testing is?
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Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
I am NOT sold on their co-infection testing. I tested highly positive 1:160 IgG from Igenex for HME (Ehrlichiosis) but was NEGATIVE with the Q-RiBb.
That said, I do think a positive Bb test from them is valid and diagnostic.
Dr B on Long Island treated my hubby for babesia based on positive test from Bowen -- all other babs tests have been negative including repeat test from Bowen. Do know that Dr B felt a positive test was reliable, but switched doctors so don't know what his opinion would be based on a negative test.
In my opinion, symptoms are more important than test results.
Bea Seibert
Posted by livinlyme (Member # 3773) on :
The reason why the co-infection testing at Bowen would be less conclusive is that is does not use the same method for detection as it uses for the Lyme Infection (Q-RiBb)..
Bowen uses the standard "Buffy Coat" test used in many other labs for Co-infections testing or at least they did when we were tested in 2002.. I'm not clear or certain of any changes in this procedure. I would not rely on the co-infection testing preformed by Bowen as it is not the same test used to detect that as it is used to detect the lyme bacteria.. The "buffy coat" is not the "Q-RiBb". I hope this might clear up any questions.. Linda D
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
I was under the impression that Bowen was looking at slides under the microscope to detect babesia and bartonella. They spend hours doing this, but if it is a low level infection because of previous treatment, or babesia has a liver stage like malaria, then it might go undetected. This has nothing to do with accuracy, but with the nature of the test and infection.
All tests have caveats. PCR is low yield for an infection like lyme. Antibody tests can only find the antibodies if your immune system produces them, and only finds the ones it is programmed to find. This means that tests lacking enough genetic variability are not going to identify all cases.
It is an unfortunate idea of many people that testing is black and white. It isn't. Not for lyme and lots of other things. Just ask lab people you trust to tell the truth.
Posted by SandiB (Member # 1557) on :
Testing for co-infections is a hit and miss, or hit and hit event.
The reason is because it is like looking for a few fish swimming in a large pool. I think the Bowen has a better chance of finding Babesia or Ehrlichia because Bowen separate the red cells from the white cells when looking for each of these pathogens. Babesia is only found in the red cells, and Bowen is only looking for them in the red cells. Ehrlichia is only found in the white cells and Bowen only looks for them in the white cells....so the odds of finding either one of them is better with Bowen's test.
SandiB
Posted by livinlyme (Member # 3773) on :
Thanks for the update Sandi
Posted by homelandstockfarm (Member # 7757) on :
Lou,
As far as I know Bowen only tests for Lyme, babesia and ehrlichia. Don't think they test for bartonella unless that is new?
WV Hillbilly
Posted by Curley911 (Member # 2205) on :
Thanks for the explanation SandiB. From Lymenet postings I knew the Bowen was highly regarded for co-infection testing but I wasn't really sure why.
Do any of the labs automatically test for Bartonella as a co-infection? My LLMD tested for that 1st up along with testing for Epstein Barr (EBV), CMV, mycoplasma (Gulf War Syndrome) and a host of others that no lab test for Lyme test for. Again, another reason for a great LLMD.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Well, farm, maybe I was speaking out of turn on the bartonella. Why don't you send sandi a private message asking this q and post the answer so we will all know?
Bowen found my babs, when I tested negative elsewhere, because it was WA1, not microti.
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
I had confirmed Ehrlichiosis and suspected Babesia and Bown shows both as Negative. So I think the challenge is that once the infections go deeper, they may not appear in the blood and can be missed.
