What is the difference between Band 41 "reactive" rather than "positive" or "negative" on a test? What does this mean, or is it a loose interpretation?
Posted by Patrick (Member # 8108) on :
My understanding is that reactive and positive are the same. I had one of each from the two different labs we used, Quest and Igenex.
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
But band 41 has no significance re Lyme.
Lyme is a clinical diagnosis.
Even if you had a CDC positive WB it is still an antibody test so even a CDC positive does not constitute actual infection.
A PCR is DIRECT detection of the spirochete and DOES constitute actual infection, but the sensitivity is VERY VERY low. Someone with active Lyme could take a PCR test 20 times in a row and only get ONE positive...
So now you understand why we say that Lyme tests suck*)!!!!!!! They do*)!
Glenn Edward Killion tested negative repeatedly even in spinals but they found spirochetes in him when he died.
That is why it is important that Lyme remain a clinical diagnosis. So no more Glenn EKs exist.