After begging and pleading with the Dr, I finally got a WB done and just got the results. This came from Quest, so keep that in mind when reading the results.
According to their tests, all bands are negative except 41 in IGM. I have no idea what this means. I know 41 has to do with the flagella, but I'm wondering what you all think this could be an indicator of.
Also, the hubby and I have basically decided we just wasted a bunch of time and should have gotten the IgeneX test from the beginning, but we were trying to save some money this way. Oh well.
Oddly enough, I've been feeling a lot better lately. The Dr. had me on some big time anti-inflammatories that started to get to my stomach, so I stopped taking them. Now I'm just doing Aleve as needed, which isn't too often. Who knows.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by HokieRider: Also, the hubby and I have basically decided we just wasted a bunch of time and should have gotten the IgeneX test from the beginning, but we were trying to save some money this way.
You're right!!
Band 41 can still by lyme...it just isn't completely lyme-specific.
Read this link all the way through. At the end, Band 41 is discussed [in the replies].
Keep in mind that Quest does not even test for ALL of the possible Lyme-specific bands.
Dr. Bransfield's Reason's for Seronegativity the reasons why you can test negative and still have Lyme disease.
1. Recent infection before immune response 2. Antibodies are in immune complexes 3. Spirochete encapsulated by host tissue (i.e.: lymphocytic cell walls) 4. Spirochete is deep in host tissue (i.e.: fibroblasts, neurons, etc.) 5. Blebs in body fluid, no whole organisms needed for PCR 6. No spirochetes in body fluid on day of test 7. Genetic heterogeneity (300 strains, 100 in U.S.) 8. Antigenic variability 9. Surface antigens change with temperature 10. Utilization of host protease instead of microbial protease 11. Spirochete in dormancy phase (L-form) with no cell walls 12. Recent antibiotic treatment 13. Recent anti-inflammatory treatment 14. Concomitant infection with babesia may cause immunosuppression 15. Other causes of immunosuppression 16. Lab with poor technical capability for Lyme disease 17. Lab tests not standardized for late stage disease 18. Lab tests labeled "for investigational use only" 19. CDC criteria is epidemiological not a diagnostic criteria 20. Lack of standardized control 21. Most controls use only a few strains as reference point 22. Few organisms are sometimes present 23. Encapsulated by glycoprotein "S-layer" which impairs immune recognition 24. "S"- layer binds to IgM 25. Immune deficiency 26. Possible down regulation of immune system by cytokines 27. Revised W.B. criteria fails to include most significant antigens Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Just band 41 doesn't mean anything re Lyme!!!
Lyme can truly be seronegative so I wouldn't count it out. Wish it was simpler-
Sincerely, Sarah
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by CaliforniaLyme: Just band 41 doesn't mean anything re Lyme!!!
But Sarah...there are a lot of people on this board who only had band 41 show up at the beginning. Later, other Lyme specific bands showed up.