Been going through the Lyme disease (or post-Lyme according to primary doc) for 5 years now. Been through 4 rounds of different oral abx. Clinical diagnosis at first, but 6 months ago I decided to get better labs. My Igenex results: IgM: **23-25 ++ **31 ++ **39 IND **41 + IgG: **31 + **39 + **41 ++ 45 + 58 + **83-93 +
So by Igenex and CDC criteria, I am positive. My Labcorp results are high but a bit unequivocal.
My recently done Quest CD57 (absolute) was 381. And 32pc in gate (whatever that means?)
Any comments from folks with similar conflicting labs would be appreciated.
So, because of this conflict, I am getting C4A tests to see where that lands.
Which lab should I go to? Quest or Labcorp? I am familiar with routing Labcorp to the National Jewish Lab. Some docs like Dr S prefer to use Quest, while others prefer the former.
-------------------- Dx NY 2008 - Rash, headaches, neuro Doxy 400mg/day 6 wks, Amoxy, Zithro Herbs, supplements, sauna/steam room (1 yr), Rife, H2O2 Neuro symptoms for 3 years. Now inc CFS, FM and arthritis IgM+ (recent LabCorp) Posts: 19 | From Flagstaff, AZ | Registered: Oct 2012
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t9im
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25489
posted
Hi azlyme:
Maybe Advanced Lab's culture test, as if it is positive it is the gold standard proving you have an active infection.
I say this as you are now running into the CDC / IDSA position that this WB result is not definitive as you have Post Lyme Syndrome.
To me your IgM is lighting up like a Christmas Tree of your body producing antibodies to the borrelia.
Good luck.
-------------------- Tim Posts: 1111 | From Glastonbury, CT | Registered: Apr 2010
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poppy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5355
posted
Some people use Stony Brook and ask for all bands to be reported, I believe. Might do a search of the archives for this lab. But it is going to be another WB antibody test.
Have heard conflicting cd57 results, that is it conflicts with how people are feeling. Might feel good with low number and feel bad with high number, so not tracking exactly.
Posts: 2888 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Well, that is definitely a positive Lyme test!
My CD57 was higher than usual, at 145, and I asked about that, and was told that it can be high and we can still be sick, just as AIDS patients can have a high CD4 count and still be sick.
My opinion: go with the Lyme test and treatment, and forget about the CD57 count, for you.
Not for everyone, though - many people sick with Lyme do have a low CD57 count that rises as they treat.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Last year's Boston ILADS conference addressed the CD57 test. While it is used as a guideline, it is not absolute. Sick people can have a high CD 57.
I think that when someone is low, they like to check it again later in treatment to see if it has gone up. It is a tool to tell them that immune function may be improving, but it isn't a definitive test and some LLMD's don't use it at all.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
I've observed that those with Babesia (and possibly other coinfections) may have higher CD57 than those who don't...
A high CD57 does not mean you don't have Lyme. Your WB is clearly positive, and any LLMD I know of would treat you just based on that + symptoms.
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4167 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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quote:Originally posted by Razzle: I've observed that those with Babesia (and possibly other coinfections) may have higher CD57 than those who don't...
A high CD57 does not mean you don't have Lyme. Your WB is clearly positive, and any LLMD I know of would treat you just based on that + symptoms.
- No need for further testing, just find a good LLMD!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both." -- Dr C of MO
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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