LymeNet Flash: Western Blot question

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Western Blot question

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Author

Topic: Western Blot question

philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069

posted

Hi all. I am new here and this place was recommended to me by my mother in law. I recently went to my primary for a physical and he decided to do a lyme test based on some of the complaints I had. I got my results sent to me yesterday but don't have my follow up appointment until next Wed. I just have a question about my results and was hoping some of you could offer some insight.

My mother in law was misdiagnosed for a long time and I don't want what happened to her, to happen to me.

Anyway, I had the tests done at Quest and if I am reading the results correctly, it would be concluded that I do not have lyme...according to the tests only.

Everything came back as "non-reactive" except for 23 IGG and 23 IGM. Both say "reactive A". I have no idea what any of this means though. I tried to look online but I didn't find too much.

I guess I'm just looking to be more informed for my follow up appointment with the doc as I don't really know how he is going to proceed.

Thanks in advance!

--------------------
When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal.

Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011 | IP: Logged |

lululymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26405

posted

That is a very lyme specific band. As I have posted below, some patients with late stage lyme show up as seronegative.. That is why a clinical diagnosis is so important.

https://sites.google.com/site/marylandlyme/lab-tests/western-blot-explanation

23-25 outer surface protein C (OspC), specific for Bb. Can be an early band.

[23-28] Potential for Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement.

Lyme disease patients may not test positive for exposure to B. burgdorferi because their antibodies to the organism are bound up in immune complexes.

An indeterminate number of patients with late or chronic Lyme disease are simply seronegative for unknown reasons.

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IGM 41 IND, 83-93+ IGG 31 IND,34 IND, 41++, 58+, 83-93 IND

31 Epitope test neg.

Bartonella henselae 1:100

Posts: 2027 | From British Columbia | Registered: Jun 2010 | IP: Logged |

Hambone
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29535

posted

Hi,

Band 23 is specific for Lyme. You've been exposed.

I would run, not walk, to the nearest Lyme doctor in your area and have a better, more sensitive test done that tests all Lyme antibodies ( Quest doesn't test for all of them ). IGenex is a Lyme and co-infections specialty lab that is more thorough.

These CDC commercial junk lab test kits ( Quest ) are worthless, and too many doctors put far too much stock in them. They let the junk test determine if you have Lyme or not, and they aren't supposed to do this. It's supposed to be a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and the CDC even says this on their website.

If your doctor says you don't have Lyme based on your test results, just smile and don't believe a word he says. Go find someone who knows what the heck they're doing.

I think there are some good Lyme doctors in your state. Go to the "Seeking a Doctor" forum and ask for a referral.

Good luck to you [Smile]

Posts: 1142 | From South | Registered: Dec 2010 | IP: Logged |

Lymetoo
Moderator
Member # 743

posted

You could very well have it. Any chance you could get this dr to give you a month's worth of antibiotics like doxycyline and then get tested again?

An antibiotic challenge consists of taking "abx" for one month or more, going OFF the abx for 2 wks and then testing again. How about using Igenex lab for your second test? GREAT IDEA, Lymetoo!! [Big Grin]

THEN maybe you'll have your answer!

Print this out and read it several times:

Dr C's Western Blot explanation:

http://tinyurl.com/ffn3x

--------------------
--Lymetutu--
Opinions, not medical advice!

Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069

posted

Thank you for the responses. I'm not exactly sure what the doc will do. I actually have an app on my phone in which the lab results get sent to me at the same time they get sent to the doc. I'll know more next Wed.

The doctor my MIL saw is no longer in the area so I think I will head on over to the seeking a doctor forum. I'll look into Igenex as well.

--------------------
When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal.

Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011 | IP: Logged |

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