posted
Question is if I have tested positive for lyme which was in the past does test mean a definite positive? I have heard of many negative tests that are discarded...
Posts: 153 | From Tampa | Registered: Jul 2013
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Some say, and the only ones I've heard say it are the rubber duck flunkies that brought us the bad IDSA guidelines and who have been consistently wrong about everything Lyme related....
That tests can be false negative. However, I've never seen that happen or heard of it happening thru any legitimate science.
So yes, if you had a positive test, and especially a history of being exposed, and coinciding symptoms, I'd say the baby is on the way! (A positive is a positive.)
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
A positive test can be trusted.
A negative test cannot be trusted. This is because of the nature of nearly all lyme tests. They are NOT direct tests for the lyme bacteria.
If you were treated after your positive test, you will continue to test positive for years or even the rest of your life. This is because nearly all lyme tests look for antibodies to the lyme bacteria rather than looking for the lyme bacteria itself.
Your body will keep lyme antibodies in your blood for a long, long time.
For example, I got rid of lyme disease nearly 12 years ago. Still, I test positive on tests that look for lyme antibodies. For example, the lyme Western Blot looks for lyme antibodies. I test positive on the Western Blot but I do not have lyme anymore.
An antibody is your immune system's response to the lyme bacteria.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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