My husband tested positive for only band 23 (current infection). He has been on Doxycline based on symptoms. Does anyone know if band 23 is specific for Lyme and also how long should he be off antibiotics before retesting through Inginex? Thanks!
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
I would'nt worry too much about being off abx's any specific time...
try and schedule the draw whenever the bug is active in your hubby....
This will take some calendar watching...but if you're like a lot of folks....
flareups occur around the full moon....mine occur around the 20th of every month...
so.... and yes I believe 23 is a band in the IGM test result that shows current active infection...however I believe two are required by the CDC....
and by the way....it's igEnix....lab..you had a small typo!
zman
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I thought with Lyme you couldn't prove active vs. residual infections with IgM and IgG testing? Yes, band 23-25, 41, and one other are the key IgM bands for a CDC positive.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Band 23 is very specific. I would wait two weeks after being on abx before testing.
[ 09. September 2008, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: Lymetoo ]
Posted by StephenC (Member # 15171) on :
quote:Originally posted by Pauline: My husband tested positive for only band 23 (current infection). He has been on Doxycline based on symptoms. Does anyone know if band 23 is specific for Lyme and also how long should he be off antibiotics before retesting through Inginex? Thanks!
My LLMD had me take a ten day break after taking tetracycline for ten months before drawing blood for my Igenex Lyme WB. He said the titers tend to go up during the breaks if the immune system is improving.
Posted by webmeg (Member # 13647) on :
Band 23 is specific to lyme, I wouldn't ignore it even if it was the only band.
I had a conversation with my LLMD on Friday about being off abx for IGeneX testing. He said NO, stay on what you are on when getting a follow up test.
I tried to understand the technical reason and from what I could get out of it he said when you stop antibiotics the lyme calms down for a while so you can easily miss it with a Western Blot.
If you are on antibiotics you are stirring up the lyme so a Western Blot will detect it.
If you are on antibiotics and you get a clean IgeneX IgM Western Blot and are symptom free it's a good sign that you have gotten rid of it.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I was diagnosed four years ago by a well known LLD based on my WB with Band 23 alone. He said it is HIGHLY specific to Lyme and that the one band is enough for a Lyme diagnosis.
Now I have a few more bands, four years later; just had IGENEX done and am positive on 31, 41, 58, and 83-93.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I only had IgM band 23 also (Quest not Igenex) and it got me diagnosed
Along with 54/75 symptoms by a duck.
I had been on antibiotics for about 60 days prior to my first LLMD appt.
He felt that testing via Igenex at this time was a waste of money
Due to the time I had already been on antibiotics.
He added bartonella and babesia to my Lyme diagnosis as well.
I know that Igenex recommends "priming" the immune system
To post an antibody response with 30 days of antibiotics followed by 10-14 days off, then test.
However, you may want to call them to verify for your husband's situation.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Pauline (Member # 10000) on :
Thanks everyone! That's a good idea, I think I will call igEnex.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
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