Is it possible to have lyme for over 5-10 years and test negative.
Does antibiotics effect the test? Barb
Posted by Nora DeBoard (Member # 15600) on :
Definately yes. I know this from personal experience. I have Chronic Lyme. Which I was misdiagnosed for 15yrs.
The VA ran an EIA and not an ELISA which was negative. Then ran a WB (western blot) which was pos. for 2 bands. So, I was told I did not have it.
ELISA is not a very accurate test to begin with. A good LLMD will tell you that. If you have had Lyme for a long period of time your body will build up and immunity to the Lyme. Thus your body will stop producing antibodies towards the Lyme, producing a neg. test result.
Also, if you show neg. for a coinfection of Lyme doesn't mean you don't have one. You can start antibiotics and retest in 4-6wks and show possitive. It's just that your bodies immune system has kicked in enough to start fighting now. So, it has enough antibodies to produce a pos. test.
Everyone here will tell you to get tested through IgeneX. www.igenex.com 800-832-3200 They are in Palo Alto,Ca. Also Fry Lab is another good lab located in Az.
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :