LymeNet Flash: Autoimmune Diseases and Tests For Infections

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Autoimmune Diseases and Tests For Infections

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Topic: Autoimmune Diseases and Tests For Infections

Hambone
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29535

posted

I recently learned that if one has an autoimmune disease, then that can affect the outcome of a test for an infection.

A friend's son tested negative for Tuberculosis, however they were told that an autoimmune disease could be the cause for a false negative test and one can STILL have full blown TB or even latent TB and still test negative because of an autoimmune disease.

So they are given a control injection along with the TB test ( required before beginning Remicade ) that EVERYONE reacts to and if the person doesn't react to the control injection, then the TB test is considered not accurate and no one can say for sure or not if someone has TB ( and thus not allowed to start Remicade ).

My point with all this is, then WHY NOT Lyme?

If it is recognized that autoimmune diseases affect TB tests and cause false negatives, then why isn't that same consideration given for Lyme?

Why can't the same control injections be given with Lyme tests like they are with TB tests? To be more sure of what is really going on?

For example, a person is given the control injection that everyone is supposed to react to, and a Lyme test at the same time. The Lyme test is negative AND the control injection didn't react ( that one should react to )...would indicate that the Lyme test could be a false negative.

Hope I am making sense. I am just so annoyed that such care measures are given for other infections, but with Lyme they really could not care less if you have it or not ( and die or not ). If autoimmune issues can render a test for a TB infection inaccurate, then why can't the same consideration be given that autoimmune issues can render Lyme tests inaccurate?

[cussing]

Posts: 1142 | From South | Registered: Dec 2010 | IP: Logged |

map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022

posted

It seems that only those that live with lyme & co know it's an autoimmune disease. Well, our LLMD also know and the docs that get it, do too.

Pam

--------------------
"Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill

Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged |

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