After having some interesting symptoms as well as a bug bite (of unknown origin), my internist agreed to do a lyme test on me. He informed me it came back Negative. I got a copy and here's what is says:
It states that testing was performed at Specialty Laboratories, Inc. Valencia, CA
Lyme Total Antibody .22 Index, Within range
The index was given as follows: < .9 Negative .91-1.09 Equivical > 1.10 Positive
Then in text, it has the following:
The Lyme Antibody test above is a combined IgG and IgM test for the C6 peptide. It is intended as a screening test for Lyme antibodies and is shown to be superior to separate IgG and IGM antibody tests. Definitive serologic evidence of Lyme disease requires a positive Western Blot test for Lyme disease.
It also has:
Rickettsial Panel Typhus IGG <1:64 titer, Within range Typhus IGM <1:64 titer, Within range Spotted Fever IGG <1:64 titer, Within range Spotted Fever IGM <1:64 titer, Within range
Questions:
1. Is this sufficient to conclude I don't have Lyme?
2. Is this the "Western Blot" test as opposed to the ELISA test? The wording confused me.
3. Is the lab they used a good one for Lyme testing?
Any other thoughts? I just got my Login to LymeNet yesterday and already I've learned so much from y'all. You are awesome. Thanks, Susan in TX.
Posted by NP40 (Member # 6711) on :
Hi Susan,
Most labs are very poor at detecting lyme. The standard to follow is an Igenex WB. Go to www.igenex.com and order their WB test for lyme. They'll send you the kit, have someone do the blood draw and Fed Ex it back to them. They'll send the report to your doc and then come back and post your results.
I'll kick this up in case anyone has thoughts on your test results.
Posted by david1097 (Member # 3662) on :
Despite what many say, at least in my understanding, from what I have read, the tests for early lyme by all the labs are not too bad. They are however much worse as the infection ages. Later stage detection is handled better by some specilist labs that only deal with tick bourne infections. These labs usually will no do the C6 test, just go straigh to the western blot. Not doing a western blot in the first case is simply a cost saving measure and a good source of income for some induviduals that have a say in the some versions of the treatment guidelines.
One big issue that many Dr's do not realize is that a lyme test is usually insensitve unless the infection has occured at least 4 weeks prior. Any test before that may lack sensitivity. Also the early use of anitbiotics may result in a negtive test depite active infection.
How long since you got the bite?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Questions:
1. Is this sufficient to conclude I don't have Lyme? NOPE!!
2. Is this the "Western Blot" test as opposed to the ELISA test? The wording confused me. NOPE!
3. Is the lab they used a good one for Lyme testing? NOPE!
David, to answer your question, I got bit by some kind of bug around the time this all started - late august. I never saw the bug and I didn't have the "characteristic" bulls eye ring, just solid redness of about a 3" diameter.
So I suppose it's possible that the recent bite could have been the starting point, or just a coincidence and we are really dealing w/ an earlier incident (if it's even lyme at all).
Also, my internist put me on Doxy (100mg, twice daily) for 10 days....but that was AFTER the blood test - so shouldn't have affected that.
I have an appt w/ a Dr. K. in Lufkin, TX on the 20th and I'll pursue getting an IgeneX test w/ that dr.