I have a friend who's concerned she might have Lyme. She's currently on a short-course of Biaxin for flu-like symptoms and has already ordered the test kit from Igenex. Although she has the test, she hasn't taken it yet.
Anyway, she is concerned that the antibiotics might skew the test results somehow.
I'd really like to know if that's the case...and if so, how long should she wait to be tested when she's off the antibiotics.
Thanks so much!
Andie
[ 07. February 2007, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: Andie333 ]
Posted by tabbytamer (Member # 3159) on :
I thought that abx could interfere with test results. But I may not be remembering correctly.
Something to do with abx suppressing the immune system's response to the tests ???
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
I just don't know, Tabby; that's why I posted.
I did try to do a search but somehow, my brain must not be working well at all -- late and looong day at work.
Thanks for your post and your thoughts, though!
Andie
Posted by Al (Member # 9420) on :
Call Igenex, I'm sure they would be glad to advise for test
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
good idea to call ignenex from AL
here's a link that mentions a conflict with abx use when test is taken-scroll down under Tom Grier's reasons #12
[ 08. February 2007, 04:53 PM: Message edited by: 5dana8 ]
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
Thanks for the link, Dana; it seems to indicate there might be some definite impact on test results from her biaxin use.
Al, I think I'll suggest my friend take your advice, call Igenex and see what they suggest!
Andie
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
The week shes going to get tested 5 days before take abx's is good if she has been infected for a month or more reason is when the abx start killing the spirochetes it breaks them into there makeup >dna,protiens etc also it free's up your antibodies so more will be in blood not attached to the spirochetes,more debri floating around your system to find. Its called priming the test. Good for western blots and 3 day urine test's. Alot of LLMD's do this.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I ordered the Igenex test kit for my husband. They suggest a 30 day protocol for antibiotics before sending the test kit.
Supposedly it jumps starts immune responses thus equaling a higher number of positive bands.
My husband did start on doxy....so I guess we'll see. We are waiting for his new insurance to start around the 15th, so if the WB is positive it is not considered a pre-existing condition.
He had a positive Elisa from Quest. I am quite interested in what his Igenex testing will reveal.
Geneal
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
Thanks, Geneal,
Actually, my friend followed the advice here and called Igenex today. My understanding was that they told her she hadn't really been on antibiotics long enough to skew the results.
So she's planning on getting the tests done immediately.
Thanks everyone for all your help and suggestions!
Andie
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
So did Igenex say it wouldn't matter??? I've always thought you needed to go off the abx for at least 2 wks????
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lymetoo: So did Igenex say it wouldn't matter??? I've always thought you needed to go off the abx for at least 2 wks????
In my opinion not forlyme. the other tests used for babs,bart,not sure.
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
What she was told was that the short course of biaxin wouldn't affect the results. They told her (someone at Igenex) that if she'd been on antibiotics longer than two months, it would likely skew the results.
Anything less, and there shouldn't be an issue.
Who knows?
Posted by secondtimearound (Member # 7249) on :
Hey Stranger,
My son and wife both tested positive with Igenex while they were taking antibiotics.
Billy was on for more than 2 months and also tested positive for Babs while Lynne was on less than 2 months and also tested positive for erlichiosis.
In our case it didn't matter.
Hope your doing well!
All My Best, Scott
Posted by Areneli (Member # 6740) on :
Longer treatment with ABX may quench antibody response and chance for falsly negative Western blot would be bigger.... but short term treatment (lets say up to two months) shouldn't matter.
If you are testing Lyme PCR consider taking GSE for a few days to release keets from cysts. The test will possibly catch bacterial DNA easier after grapefruit seed extract.