posted
Can someone please explain to me what indeterminate means on the bands. I understand the + or ++ etc. It would seem to me that there is either something there or not.
Posts: 10 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2013
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posted
"If enough of the complexes are formed, eventually it may be seen with the naked eye as a dark band. - Band intensity reflects how dark or wide it is. Controversy exists about band intensity.
Many would say the " +/-" equivocal ["IND"] bands are not significant. The problem I have with that, is that there are "-" negative bands. The lab has no trouble calling some bands negative. So they must be seeing something when they put "+/-" at some bands.
The only thing that makes sense, is that there is a little bit of that antibody present in your serum. If the "+/-" equivocal is reported on the borrelia associated bands, it is usually significant, in my clinical experience. This is a strong clue that I am on the right track."
posted
My LLMD would call an indeterminate band a positive band. If something is seen and the lab can't call it negative, she would consider that they saw some reaction to the antibodies.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i had alot of the inter...and then mostly two ++...
the doctor said borderline...but to me with my symptoms, it was lyme...
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I would agree, that there was something there to cause an indeterminate band, so to me, it's another indication of positive.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
In ILADs speak, it would mean most likely positive. In the land of allopathic, it means negative. The correct diagnosis for lyme is a clinical one anyway, so these tests don't really matter. I never got hung up on them (positive or negative). I just treated.
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
My LLMD said that IGenX got into trouble for calling too many positive bands, and so when the positive is low, they label it indeterminate.
Posts: 123 | From Pawleys Island SC | Registered: Mar 2013
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posted
Thank you everyone! It takes awhile to get the hang of what all of this means and it's significance or insignificance.
Posts: 10 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2013
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- In addition to others' good replies some links for your reference file.
While I agree that (along with symptoms) "indeterminate" is a positive marker as it is reading something that is there, see all the considerations with testing and issues that can keep a test from being the best it can be:
WHY you need an ILADS "educated" or "minded" Lyme Literate doctor (whether MD or ND, or both) - starting with assessment / evaluation. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
is it sort of like being a little pregnant???
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
At the U of New Haven Lyme Conference a few weeks ago, Dr. J S of Igenex said that with the indeterminate (+/-) bands, it meant that one person saw it as +, and one saw it as -.
I agree, it IS like being "a little bit pregnant!"
Posts: 3792 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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