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I had a positive WB test, can't remember how many bands.. then I had the PCR test done which came up negative. I was then treated with Doxy and another WB test done with more bands positive than the first one. I then stopped treatment because of the run around from doctors.
I was just thinking, why would the PCR be negative with positive WB's? I thought I read somewhere that the PCR is even more accurate than a WB.
Posts: 9 | From Western, PA | Registered: Jan 2011
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Well an infectious disease doctor is the one that prescribed the Doxy to me, then weeks later did another WB and got the results with more bands positive. She then proceeded to tell me that the Doxy HAD TO work and that WB must have been a false positive although none of my symptoms went away. I was then told I didn't need to go back to see her. (some nerve, huh!)
I now have a new doctor.. and LLMD, appt on Feb 14th. So we'll see.
Posts: 9 | From Western, PA | Registered: Jan 2011
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That is what happens when you go to an ID dr who does NOT want to treat Lyme long term. They tell you it's a false positive so you will go away. Worked, didn't it!?
Hope you found a GOOD LLMD.
PS.. When you take antibiotics and then retest, it is VERY common for more bands to show up because you killed spirochetes and they threw off more antibodies as they died.
Many LLMD's will do that challenge when first testing a patient. If the initial test comes back negative, and they give you a month's worth of abx, then retest... It will often come back positive for the reason above.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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PCR tests give many false negatives -- you only have somewhere between a 4% and 6% chance of getting a positive on a PCR test. This means that to rule out lyme based on only PCR tests you would need to repeat the PCR test about 20 times -- very few people can afford to do this obviously.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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PCR has a very low sensitivity and a very high specificity.
It looks for the actual Lyme spirochete... which may be hiding in your blood, muscle tissue, etc. If it does come out positive, you can pretty much shove it in the face of any doctor that tells you you're not infected and tell them to get stuffed.
Posts: 340 | From san francisco, ca | Registered: Nov 2010
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