My Dr. left me a message today that my Lyme antibody test was negative "so you don't have lyme disease".
Needless to say I'm going to start pursing other options, like finding an LLMD and ordering the Igenex kit.
I was so annoyed to hear him say that. You guys are right--they really don't know much about t his.
Posted by julielynne4 (Member # 20336) on :
Mine was negative back in October, too...and I knew I had lyme...I since found a great LLMD and got tested through Igenex and now I am in treatment. Good luck!
Posted by fighter (Member # 20170) on :
this is so strange...
i've been reading all over the site that many members' ELISA tests keep coming back negative -
yet, mine have always come back positive, since way-back-when.
whenever i'm tested (at least 3-4 times in the last 2 years that i definitely remember) doc says that i came back positive, but since it always comes back positive, there's nothing to worry about.
what's the scoop with that?
is there a false negative with the ELISA?
Posted by 4Seasons (Member # 14601) on :
I had my first false negative ELISA in 1990. Finally dx'd 1/09! I have heard that about 50% of people with Lyme will get a false negative with the ELISA.
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
quote:Originally posted by fighter:
is there a false negative with the ELISA?
Unfortunately a false negative is a routine finding with the ELISA test.
I got a negative on ELISA a couple of times, a negative on the Western Blot my PCP ordered for me and one month later I tested positive with Igenex.
The Igenex Western Blot is the most accurate of all the blood tests for Lyme.
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
quote:Originally posted by Juliel833: My Dr. left me a message today that my Lyme antibody test was negative "so you don't have lyme disease".
Needless to say I'm going to start pursing other options, like finding an LLMD and ordering the Igenex kit.
I was so annoyed to hear him say that. You guys are right--they really don't know much about t his.
Julie, I think that if you have symptoms you are on the right track by finding an LLMD.
Chances are your LLMD will have everything necessary to send your blood to Igenex so you might not have to order the kit yourself.
Posted by fighter (Member # 20170) on :
woops! i meant a false POSITIVE.
is there a false positive with the ELISA?
why, when i'm positive on every ELISA, does my regular doc say it's nothing to worry about?
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
quote:Originally posted by fighter: woops! i meant a false POSITIVE.
is there a false positive with the ELISA?
why, when i'm positive on every ELISA, does my regular doc say it's nothing to worry about?
Oh, yes, a person can get a false positive, but that' s not nearly as common as a false negative I don't think. I think doctors are supposed to follow-up a positive ELISA test with a Western Blot.
I would be highly suspicious of a doctor who tells you not to worry.
Almost nobody gets a positive ELISA result, much less a false positive, but I guess it can happen.