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» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Why is test for Babs not reliable?

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Author Topic: Why is test for Babs not reliable?
Gratitude
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Can someone please explain this to me?

I thought the Babs test finds the actual presence of the parasite in the blood rather than the antibodies in response to the infection.

I'm not doing a very good job of educating my loved ones about all of this!
Posts: 57 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Apr 2011  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Mo
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if you mean a babesia smear, it is geared to check for visible parasites (look like maltese crosses inside the rbc's in babesia)..
they check the blood smear under a microscope.

i have heard from docs that the main problem with this is how many infected cells end up on the slide at the time, and the wide margin for human error in the lab and false negatives.

with antibody tests, you can also get a false negative based on immune response and timing of those tests.

ilads.org is a good site for loved ones because it is science-based. their basic info tab, and info on testing page is great, plus doc b's diagnostic guidelines.

best,
mo
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Gratitude
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Thank you Mo.
Posts: 57 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Apr 2011  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

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