LymeNet Flash: ? About coinfection testing....

This is topic ? About coinfection testing.... in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by lymex5&counting (Member # 7202) on :

This question is directed toward the patients of

LLMD's who

don't treat for every coinfection across the

board... regardless of result. I was wondering

how frequently you retest? Every 3, 6, or 12

months? And if you keep getting negatives. Do

you switch labs? And once you get a positive do

you quit testing for it?

My situation is this I have a positive urine PCR

at MDL so should I quit testing urine and do a

second round of MDL testing for all coinfections

and lyme blood pcr. But then move on to doing

testing at Bowen and/or IGeneX for coinfections.

My IGeneX western blot has lots of bands pos and

equiv but of course still reads neg. but I don't

question that because some are borrelia

specific. I have a LLMD and the issue of

coinfections will be addressed at my upcoming

visit this week. I just want to have info on what

most do so I can express my wishes. And make

sure what my lyme brain is thinking is right.

Also how many times does your insurance pay for

MDL?

Thanks so much for any posts!

[ 06. November 2005, 04:13 PM: Message edited by: lymex5&counting ]

Posted by Starphoenix (Member # 2402) on :

Hi. I'm sorry I can't answer your question. I'm here for another reason. I tried replying to your private message, but your box was full. So I will answer you here. I don't know if you wanted your information kept personal, so I will be vague.

I appreciate the information regarding the metal issues.

I could sniff drugs for the police. My husband says I could smell an ant fart from a block away! [Big Grin]

All the best, Steph

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

Seems to me that it's safest to STOP testing once you get a positive. WHY? Because if you get a negative later, the ins co can say "Oh, you no longer have Lyme"... end of story, beginning of TROUBLE.

Or you could try once more on the Western Blot after being on abx for a few months. You're more likely to come up positive now than you were before abx.

Just be aware you run a bit of a risk by doing that.

If you do another WB, make sure you are off abx for 3 or 4 wks. That causes another problem, because it's not a good thing to stop meds right now.

sorry if this doesn't answer your question! I'm sure others will give their take on the issue too.

Posted by johnlyme1 (Member # 7343) on :

For what it is worth. I had my first co-infection testing after 4 weeks of doxy. Then 3 weeks off abx then the testing. I tested moderate posative for babs, echlici, bart. all three. Testing was by Igenex. Through the course of treatment I had 2 other tests for all three. of course with the 3 weeks of abx each time - My 2nd testing showed two of the infections much higher, the babs and bart. after 9 weeks of treatement the final tests showed IGG and IGM negative. Also the symptoms were pretty much gone. Now only the lyme to deal with we hope.