I just learned that the blood culture test I had done at Advanced Labs came back inconclusive after 10 days, so they are doing the long term testing and I will receive my results on Oct. 22nd. I can't imagine what else I could have other than Lyme Disease. Does anyone know if this test is 100% accurate? C.P.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
If it is able to grow lyme from your blood, that is 100% accurate and indisputable that you have lyme disease. There is no other way they could grow lyme from your blood except it was in your blood.
However, if they can't grow lyme from your blood, it could be because lyme doesn't normally hang out in the blood. The tiny sample they cultured may just have happened to not have any lyme bacteria in it.
In that case, the lab recommends that you try testing 2 more blood samples before concluding that you don't have lyme.
I used to know the website where this was said, but I can't find it right now.
All I can find right now is:
"A positive culture means that there was an active infection at the time the blood was drawn."
Thank you for the information. Yes, I had the Western Blot many years after I got sick, and it came back negative. After reading all of the posts on this website and numerous books, etc., I just can't imagine my illness could be anything but Lyme. I can't imagine having to pay for another Lyme Culture Test at Advanced Labs. $595.00 is a lot of money. It's so odd: On the one hand I don't want to have Lyme Disease, but on the other hand, I'm hoping for a positive result, so I know what's making me so ill. Thanks so much for all of your help and support!!! This website is great, really great. C.P.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I agree. I would not pay for more culture testing. I would just treat for lyme and see what happens.
Burrascano says that is the way to confirm a tentative diagnosis of lyme. Here is what he says:
"DIAGNOSTIC HINTS Lyme Borreliosis (LB) is diagnosed clinically, as no currently available test, no matter the source or type, is definitive in ruling in or ruling out infection with these pathogens, or whether these infections are responsible for the patient's symptoms.. . .
Consideration should be given to tick exposure, rashes (even atypical ones), evolution of typical symptoms in a previously asymptomatic individual, and results of tests for tick-borne pathogens. Another very important factor is response to treatment- presence or absence of Jarisch Herxheimer-like reactions, the classic four-week cycle of waxing and waning of symptoms, and improvement with therapy." (page 7)
How you feel isn't odd at all. It's how every lyme patient feels. It took 10 years of sickness and going from doctor to doctor to get my lyme diagnosis. I was relieved, because until you get a diagnosis, you cannot make any progress toward health.
You can get a lot of treatment for $600.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I agree.. we all felt that way!!
Maybe later down the line you can get a Western Blot from Igenex. They're around $200+.
Right now.. get treatment! Posted by susank (Member # 22150) on :
CP - I did the test in Dec. They check it at about 10 days/2 weeks. If no growth - they put the specimen in long-term culture. I think then they check it weekly. I had "inconclusive" on mine in the "short-term" culture.
Ten weeks after they received my specimen - in Feb - I got the call from my doctors office that my test was positive. The max time they allow on the culture is ten weeks. 2 in short term - 8 in long-term. I had given up and assumed by week 10 my test would be negative.
But it can happen where the entire ten weeks are needed to see growth. I guess mine was a slow grower. Hope this input helps.
Posted by C.P. (Member # 38378) on :
I'm getting ready to see a Lyme Lit. Doc. in Missouri next week and was hoping to have something conclusive to bring him. I'm sure the doctor will have no trouble figuring out I have Lyme Disease without the new test. I have all the symptoms and will start treatment ASAP. Thank you all so very much for all of this valuable information and support.
Posted by chootik (Member # 11221) on :
I tested positive on week 8. I spoke to the lab and they said they check the test daily to see if it's positive or not.
I asked it it's significant that I didn't test positive sooner and he said not really. But if you ask me I think it could mean the lyme wasn't as active maybe. Not sure.
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