LymeNet Flash: Strange Test Results (ERISA/Western Blot)

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Strange Test Results (ERISA/Western Blot)

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Author

Topic: Strange Test Results (ERISA/Western Blot)

BizMom77
Junior Member
Member # 37243

posted

After suffering for some time with various symptoms such as Anxiety, fatigue, joint pain, migraines, etc. my doctor decided to run a Lyme test.

He called me today and was puzzled. He said the ERISA was negative, but the Western Blot was positive.

I did some googling and found that usually a false positive will be the opposite (positive ERISA but negative Western Blot).

He referred me to an Infectious Disease specialist who can't see me for a while. Wondering if anyone else had these same results?

Posts: 2 | From Rockland County, NY | Registered: Apr 2012 | IP: Logged |

Larae30
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 35220

posted

The ELISA is falsely negative a lot of the time. The WB is more likely to show bands if you have them!

A trip to an ID dr. will probably do no good, as you need to find a lyme literate dr!

It's a long journey and you will be learning all sorts of things along the way.

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Treating lyme, bart and babs

Posts: 506 | From NE | Registered: Dec 2011 | IP: Logged |

BizMom77
Junior Member
Member # 37243

posted

So I do have it then? How do I go about searching for a lyme literate dr? Guess I will google a lot more tonight!

Posts: 2 | From Rockland County, NY | Registered: Apr 2012 | IP: Logged |

Larae30
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 35220

posted

You can go to the 'Seeking a Dr. Forum' on this site and post your city and state! Someone should send you a message.

Do you know what bands on the WB were positive?

--------------------
Treating lyme, bart and babs

Posts: 506 | From NE | Registered: Dec 2011 | IP: Logged |

Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673

posted

-
It's true, (99% of the time) an Infectious Disease doctor will do you no good if they go by the IDSA guidelines as detailed in the thread below. They require that the ELISA be positive AND the Western Blot, too.

An ID doctor will, most often, also require a positive spinal tap (lumbar puncture) which is NOT a good test for lyme. It's very inaccurate.

And they only treat for a very short time with just one single Rx. It's not enough.

With your symptoms and the positive Western Blot, it sure does point to lyme.

You should also be assessed for other tick-borne infections by an ILADS-educated Lyme Literate MD.
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http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=015508;p=0

Diagnosing Lyme Disease (and/or whatever else it might be)

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http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=013239;p=0

(What ILADS is) . . . WHY you need an ILADS-educated, Lyme Literate Doctor

===========================

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=2;hardset=0;start_point=0;DaysPrune=1000

"Seeking a Doctor" forum
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Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007 | IP: Logged |

LaurenMiddleTN
Member
Member # 35174

posted

Hi Biz, just a short note from someone who knows,,, this can get overwhelming quickly. We are always here. [group hug]

--------------------
Bite: 5/08, Bulls-eye rash; test:neg. Doxy Treated.
Relapse 5/09: test: neg. Doxy Treated.
Relapse 6/10: back2bake test-neg: Request Western Blot: POSITIVE Currently - 4th round of treatment.
"Sharing my Experience, Strength and Hope."

Posts: 35 | From Middle TN | Registered: Nov 2011 | IP: Logged |

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