Since the tests aren't totally reliable, it is always good to have at least 2 different tests for each coinfection.
IgG and IgM is one test. The FISH would be the second.
My lyme doc did 2 different tests for each coinfection. In my case, one babs test was positive and the other negative. So, that meant that I had babs. If you get ANY positive result, you know you have the disease. So, by him doing 2 tests, I knew conclusively that I had babs and bart.
He told me that the FISH test involves a technician looking at your blood through a very high-powered microscope. The technician is looking for the particular germ. If the tech finds it, you are given a positive result on that test. So, this is a DIRECT test for bart.
IgG and IgM are antibody tests. This means that the test is NOT looking for the germ. Rather, it is looking for antibodies in your blood to that particular germ.
The problem with indirect antibody tests is that if your body is not making antibodies to that particular germ (for various reasons), the antibody test will be negative.
That's how you get negative lyme tests and still have lyme. The Western Blot is an antibody test. It can be done for lyme or other illnesses.
So, once you understand the differences in the tests, you can see the wisdom of ordering 2 different tests for each disease. It increases your chances of getting an accurate result. You are approaching the problem from 2 different angles.
Posted by BobK (Member # 45623) on :
What about the C6 Peptide test?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I never had that one. I googled it. It looks like it is a lyme test that can be used on people who got the lyme vaccine. The vaccine has been off the market for years now.
Here is the website I found, but I am sure there are others: