posted
My serum and whole blood PCR tests both came back positive from Igenex.
Is there anything other than lyme that can cause these tests to come back positive the same way certain other infections can react with certain bands on the lyme antibody test?
Thanks for any help.
Posts: 86 | From Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Registered: Sep 2010
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
PCR actually tests for the DNA of Lyme so NO WAY its anything else. You have very good clear and definitive proof lyme bacteria is in your body, There is no doubt!
Sorry you have this awful disease. Many people can not get a positive PCR. You are "lucky" in a way if that makes sense.
I would just try to accept your test results and get treatment.
Good luck
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Thanks feelfit, I was trying to be sure nothing other than lyme could cause the PCR to be positive because I only had a few bands show up on the western blot.
ChuckG: On the testing report for Igenex this is what is printed... ~Presence of only one double starred band or indeterminate double starred bands in a negative report may indicate clinical significance. Band Intensity: Neg - : No band detected. Indeterminate {IND} : Band present with intensity < calibration standard.~
It's also printed on the report that a positive for 31 and 34kDa may be present and lyme vaccination in uninfected people, and people infected with HSV, EBV, HCV, and/or syphillis {RPR+} may give false + results.
I have never been vaccinated for lyme and I am not infected with any of the above mentioned.
As far as your question, where is 39? I am not sure what you're asking.
Posts: 86 | From Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
I do not understand where serum and whole blood PCR tests are on my igenex report. Do they only test for these if asked to specificaly? My test was about 400 hundred, so I thought I should have gotten the full treatment
Posts: 357 | From California | Registered: Jun 2010
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
My PCR was positive too, despite negative Western Blots [negative, but several key INDs] and I was told by my LLMD to regard it as as positive as the [then] current testing allowed.
I was told once by a doctor sceptical of Lyme that the positive PCR could be a result of lab contamination; as I understand it, it is hard to get a POS on PCR because of the tiny size of the sample sent [ie borrelia DNA may not be in that small sample, despite being present in the body].
Although theoretically lab contamination may be possible, I feel this is highly unlikely: there is far more scope for false NEG than false POS results.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
My understanding is that it is indeed difficult to get a positive PCR for Lyme. Mine was negative, but I did have a positive PCR for babesia microti. If you're fortunate enough (we all know what that means!) to get a positive, like everyone says...you've got it.
Posts: 246 | From south florida | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
Thanks Chuck G apparently I did not have it. I remain a little unclear whether serum and whole blood are separate results under that general test or it is simply an inclusive term for one test? I am probably being a little to picky, but I try to understand these things clearly in case I need to explain it to somebody someday
Posts: 357 | From California | Registered: Jun 2010
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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
Ditto to some above. PCR tests for DNA, so it's a sure thing there.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Assuming you have Lyme symptoms, you should tell anyone who says your PCR is due to lab contamination to **** off.
Posts: 340 | From san francisco, ca | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
I have had RSD for 13 years. However, for the past 10 of those I've been living in limbo with so many new symptoms that no longer simply fit with just my RSD.
I learned of Lyme online while searching my symptoms. I came across the symptom list and was able to check off more than 75% of them.
Through research I found you all and learned of Igenex. I have my 1st appt at the end of March with a Dr. I hope will turn out to know what he is doing.
I didn't mean to cause a problem with this post, I was just trying to be certain that only LYME DNA could cause a Positive PCR. For my own piece of mind.
Posts: 86 | From Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Registered: Sep 2010
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