I recently received a positive Lyme result with the Igenix Western Blot test. I have not yet received my actual test results on paper, but many people (non-Lyme literate) have been asking me if the test could be a false positive. I have read some articles that say that there are false positives. How would I know for sure? I mean, I think I have lyme. I have all of the symptoms, I grew up in a tick infested area, I have a reaction to the rife machine when I used it...but, I want to be able to explain things to my family and friends and I want to be 100% certain before I start any type of treatment.
Thanks in advance!
Posts: 6 | From Nevada City, CA | Registered: Nov 2013
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posted
VERY unlikely. Lyme tests are often falsely NEGATIVE. Give us your positive bands as soon as you get them. We'll help you, but in the meantime, print this out and read it several times.
Even the notion of a false positive is discussed here:
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
No.
Your body won't produce Bb specific bands for something it has never seen.
Period.
False negatives?
Yes! Sometimes our bodies are so weak, they don't recognize Bb as being "foreign" anymore.
False ELISA ? Oh gosh yes!!!!
That is why the CDC states that lyme is a clinical diagnosis, and doctors must not rely on blood tests to begin treatment.
Also, coinfections are now an increasing problems.
Ticks are filthy, filthy bugs.
One tick from Northern Italy had 258 bacteria genomes in its gut. 258!
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
I think not, but you could call IGeneX to discuss specificity - ie chance of a false positive. Like 4% specificity, for example, means a 4% chance of a false positive.
The AIDS test has 95% specificity, meaning 5% chance of a false positive. That's considered a decently low percentage.
As compared, for example, with an ELISA test, which has 50% specificity. Now you tell me whether you would waste your time doing a test with that percentage!
Posts: 13117 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Well said Robin Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Teresa! Welcome to Lyme Net!
Short answer- yes, you're in luck to get a short one... HA!
A false positive on a Lyme test is like being a little bit pregnant.
Now dearest Greta, please do share a link or details to your comment posted above that says... "One tick from Northern Italy had 258 bacteria genomes in its gut. 258!"
I love it!!!
That sounds like MY kind of fun fact to use all over the town!!! I can have a party with it if I have the references to back it up.
posted
My Igenex IgG Western Blot result was positive (copy from my doc).
The printed report has a general statement (not specific to me) on it with 2 qualifications:
"LIMITATION: Positive results for 31 and/or 34kDa may be present after Lyme vaccination in uninfected persons. Positive result with both 31kDa and 41kDa (+) may be present in persons with viral or other spirochetal infections"
Above that the report states : "a positive result suggests exposure to B burgdorferi".
Perhaps "other spirochetal infections" refers to the other forms of Lyme mostly found in Europe and Asia, not burgdorferi. Igenex should be able to answer that.
Posts: 254 | From North Carolina | Registered: Nov 2013
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posted
There is some info noted by Igenix about false positives with the Epstein Barr virus I think
Posts: 355 | From NY | Registered: Jan 2006
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