LymeNet Flash: PCR TESTING. ACCURATE?

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » PCR TESTING. ACCURATE?

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Author

Topic: PCR TESTING. ACCURATE?

ohioRN
Member
Member # 21725

posted

I have had + elisa and western blot igm band 23 and 41. just had a lymes serum pcr and it was -.
any comments on this? [bonk]

Posts: 16 | From ohio | Registered: Aug 2009 | IP: Logged |

Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936

posted

If it is negative, it does not mean you don't have Lyme. Testing is unreliable. If it were positive it could not be disputed, as it would mean that the DNA of the spirochete was found in your blood.

Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009 | IP: Logged |

kitty9309
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 19945

posted

If a PCR test is positive- it is a true positive. In other words, it is very specific.

PCR's have a very low yield. In other words, low sensitivity.

There has to be at least one fragment of the organism in the blood sample drawn. If it is there, it will be amplified and detected by PCR.

(As mentioned above)

Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009 | IP: Logged |

cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347

posted

A negative PCR test only means that in that particular sample of blood there were not any Lyme DNA fragments.

Throw a bucket of ping pong balls in a swimming pool, then use another bucket to scoop out a sample of pool water.

If you come up with ping pong balls in your sample - it means there are ping pong balls in the pool.

If you come up without any ping pong balls - does it mean there are no ping pong balls in the pool?

No. Just none in that sample.

A PCR test is limited in its usefulness, in that a positive is significant, but a negative is fairly meaningless.

Have you read Dr Burrascano's guidelines? He discusses the pros and cons of PCR testing.

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�Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne

Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged |

ohioRN
Member
Member # 21725

posted

thank you for your input

Posts: 16 | From ohio | Registered: Aug 2009 | IP: Logged |

Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374

posted

PCR testing is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but by checking only a sample of the haystack. A negative means nothing.

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"When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison

Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged |

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