Been going through the Lyme disease (or post-Lyme according to primary doc) for 5 years now. Been through 4 rounds of different oral abx. Clinical diagnosis at first, but 6 months ago I decided to get better labs. My Igenex results: IgM: **23-25 ++ **31 ++ **39 IND **41 + IgG: **31 + **39 + **41 ++ 45 + 58 + **83-93 +
So by Igenex and CDC criteria, I am positive. My Labcorp results are high but a bit unequivocal.
My recently done Quest CD57 (absolute) was 381. And 32pc in gate (whatever that means?)
Any comments from folks with similar conflicting labs would be appreciated.
So, because of this conflict, I am getting C4A tests to see where that lands.
Which lab should I go to? Quest or Labcorp? I am familiar with routing Labcorp to the National Jewish Lab. Some docs like Dr S prefer to use Quest, while others prefer the former.
Posted by t9im (Member # 25489) on :
Hi azlyme:
Maybe Advanced Lab's culture test, as if it is positive it is the gold standard proving you have an active infection.
I say this as you are now running into the CDC / IDSA position that this WB result is not definitive as you have Post Lyme Syndrome.
To me your IgM is lighting up like a Christmas Tree of your body producing antibodies to the borrelia.
Good luck.
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
Some people use Stony Brook and ask for all bands to be reported, I believe. Might do a search of the archives for this lab. But it is going to be another WB antibody test.
Have heard conflicting cd57 results, that is it conflicts with how people are feeling. Might feel good with low number and feel bad with high number, so not tracking exactly.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Well, that is definitely a positive Lyme test!
My CD57 was higher than usual, at 145, and I asked about that, and was told that it can be high and we can still be sick, just as AIDS patients can have a high CD4 count and still be sick.
My opinion: go with the Lyme test and treatment, and forget about the CD57 count, for you.
Not for everyone, though - many people sick with Lyme do have a low CD57 count that rises as they treat.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
Last year's Boston ILADS conference addressed the CD57 test. While it is used as a guideline, it is not absolute. Sick people can have a high CD 57.
I think that when someone is low, they like to check it again later in treatment to see if it has gone up. It is a tool to tell them that immune function may be improving, but it isn't a definitive test and some LLMD's don't use it at all.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
I've observed that those with Babesia (and possibly other coinfections) may have higher CD57 than those who don't...
A high CD57 does not mean you don't have Lyme. Your WB is clearly positive, and any LLMD I know of would treat you just based on that + symptoms.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Razzle: I've observed that those with Babesia (and possibly other coinfections) may have higher CD57 than those who don't...
A high CD57 does not mean you don't have Lyme. Your WB is clearly positive, and any LLMD I know of would treat you just based on that + symptoms.
- No need for further testing, just find a good LLMD!!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both." -- Dr C of MO