Finally Borreliosis test came back and I need help understanding the results.
Both say Igenex negative CDC negative; but it looks like there are positive results. What the heck. Dr. included 4 page interpretation that I don't completely understand.
IGM Band: 31 has an I, Band 41 has an I, all others have a (-)
IGG Band 30 has a (+), Band 41 has a (+), Band 58 has a (++), Band 66 has a (+), all others have a (-)
So am I negative or positive?
If negative why does Igenex even measure bands that they do not count?
Thanks for your responses!
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I'm sorry you needed to come looking for us. But welcome and I hope you find the truth.
The negative is according to CDC guidelines because they insist one must have so many positive bands in order to be called positive.
But the truth is.....I would bet the house you have been exposed to Lyme bacteria based on those bands. You need a doctor that is Lyme educated.
The CDC is not Lyme literate and certainly not worthy of deciding treatment for Lyme.
You have come to a good place to get educated about Lyme.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'll check on you tomorrow. You have a great LLMD in MO ..
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Well, well...
It sounds like you weren't wearing your purple and yellow striped socks, holding two forks in your left hand and painting your elbows red while the moon is rising and you were singing this sweet song when you read your results!
Anyhow... The way the IDSA/CDC have this rotten testing and translation thing going on, and with all the "if this and if that" requirements that need to be met to be positive, its a wonder anyone is positive!
And I am sorry you've run into this difficulty too, like so many others. But, lets see if we can make some sense out of it.
If you scroll down a bit on this page you'll see a section of Western Blot Tests Explained...
That will help you see any bands on your test that are "specific" for Lyme disease.
It also has a long list of reasons why you can read negative on tests and still have Lyme disease.
The (I) on your tests means not able to be determined. Indeterminate = (I)
IGeneX checks all the bands and then reports which ones are the "strongest" that show up.
An (I) means something showed, but they can't say it was strong enough to be clearly interpreted.
Sorry, I started this post earlier, and got distracted. Hope this helps and isn't a repeat of what others shared already.
Oh, positive or negative? In my opinion you wouldn't show bands "specific for Lyme" if you weren't exposed to it.
Bet your doc takes it as a positive too!
Posted by Mashieniblick (Member # 50588) on :
Thank you all! The main reason I asked is because I wasn't sure what I was going to share with friends/family. I made the mistake of blurting something out a few weeks ago about being tested. The few I did tell have been asking "did the test come back yet" over and over...
I am afraid they will do like I did 2 years ago and go to the CDC site and get a false idea of diagnosis and treatment.
I'm not sure how public/secretive I want to be about all this...
I am still uncertain about telling people my "Lyme" test came back positive.
I really do not want to have to go around explaining to everybody about this being clinical diagnosis, crappy tests, bla bla bla.
I bet people will not believe it...
I haven't told anybody at work. What did you guys do when this crap all started for you?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
My LabCorp test came back positive. So, when I got the call from my doctor, I just told everybody at work, "Gues what? I have lyme disease."
I had been sick for 10 years, getting worse the entire time.
In your case, wait until you talk to the doctor. If the doc says you have lyme, then just tell people "My doctor has diagnosed me with lyme disease."
When I took a friend to a lyme doctor, we came back home to her disbelieving husband and said, "The doctor says she has lyme and babesiosis." That was it.
Then, she filled her prescriptions and started taking them and that settled it all.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
For the test asking folks... you can tell them you have several positive bands. Most likely they won't decide to ask what is a band.
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