If so what lab did the blood smear and did you do any other tests to confirm the babesia diagnosis?
Bea Seibert
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
Yes, the old FL lab, now closed, found it in a blood smear. It was subsequently confirmed by a CA county lab that did an antibody test for B. duncani. They will not do testing for anyone who doesn't live in the handful of counties they serve, though.
The reason I did the blood smear is that the test for B. microti came back negative but I had babesia symptoms.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I have never heard of anyone finding a positive blood smear except for a show on PBS called Monsters Inside Me which aired a while back. Supposedly, it's incredibly rare. I think the odds are 1 in 200. That's IF the lab actually is diligent about reviewing the smear.
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
I think I saw that same Monsters Inside Me episode. A guy was walking across his lawn to get his mail & falls sick soon after.
Hospital discovers Babesia & treat him with IV. Her makes a full recovery, but I wondered about that. The hospital concluded that he got bit by a tick. How often does a tick just carry Babesia only?
I am sure he will have further symptoms down the road.
Posted by amk33 (Member # 13206) on :
Poppy, are you talking about Central Fla. Research lab? If so, why did it close? I tested positive on the flow cytometry antigen test for lyme by that lab, after yrs. of abx. But, haven't heard about this lab in a long time.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Poppy is talking about the old Bowen lab -- the lab's owner/founder died a couple of years ago. Her daughter I think it was started the Central Fl Research Lab -- not sure of current status of that lab.
Hubby did have 2 positive smears from the old Bowen lab in 2002 and 2003 I think it was.