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This new DNA sequencing test developed by Milford Hospital Laboratories detects Borrelia miyamotoi as well as Borrelia burgdorferi. Recently discovered in the Northeast, Borrelia miyamotoi, a relapsing fever pathogen, that has similar symptoms to Lyme disease, cannot be detected using any of the standard tests for Lyme disease.
Because of additional licensing restrictions imposed by the NYS Department of Health, this test is not available to either NYS residents or their physicians. In June, NY Senate Task force for Lyme and Tick-borne Disease issued a report recommending, "that the Department of Health re-evaluate the tests and facilities it authorizes for Lyme and other Tick-Borne diseases in order to help facilitate earlier diagnoses, and better outcomes, across the State."
HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--What is a reliable laboratory test for Lyme disease and related borrelioses for the earliest diagnosis and timely treatment?
"We are seeking to partner with hospitals located in heavy Lyme disease endemic areas to create Lyme disease diagnostic and treatment centers to conduct further research on this wide spreading infectious disease, he said."
Sin Hang Lee, M.D., a noted pathologist from Milford Hospital in Milford, Conn., informed a group of national Lyme disease experts at a recent Massachusetts General Hospital roundtable discussion on November 8:
"As for any emerging infectious diseases whose causative agents are difficult to culture, for example, the Ebola virus, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a signature segment of the genomic nucleic acid of the causative agent followed by DNA sequencing of the amplicon is the standard diagnostic approach," (See document http://www.dnalymetest.com/images/Nov._8_Handout.pdf) .
Additionally, Dr. Lee recommended that "To encourage technology innovation, it is recommended that blind-coded simulated blood samples spiked with various species of borreliae or blank be distributed to all clinical laboratories performing Lyme disease testing for a bacteriology survey, as routinely conducted by the College of American Pathologists for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The laboratories which return the correct answers will be invited to further develop a generally accepted diagnostic protocol to be used by hospitals located in Lyme disease-endemic areas." . . .
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It would be nice if a blood PCR was sensitive enough. During an acute phase when there are a large number of spirochetes in the blood, this test is great and ID's the species and some strain info. But if you are too early or too late or treated or chronic, its sensitivity is below 10%. So unless you were bitten 2 months ago, feel really ill, have a fever and have not been treated it will not work. Otherwise it will not.
The reason its used for ebola is the virus keeps multiplying exponentially and the number of virus in your blood is enormous once you have symptoms. So the comparison is meaningless in a practical sense.
Posts: 53 | From Jupiter | Registered: Aug 2013
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Lymedin2010
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34322
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WHAT IF?
What if they already know that DNA sequencing is the best suited for testing? What if they have already DNA sampled the population & they found that a large percentage of the population is infected, yet asymptomatic?
My microscopy studies show me that many can have it & not display any or many symptoms as to warrant suspicion. I was one of them, until symptoms came piling on.
Would they really want to make that public then? Their actions & lack of actions go way beyond idiocy and may only be explained by some other agenda.
Posts: 2094 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2011
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The problem with DNA sequencing or PCR testing is that you have to test for the specific strain.
Steve might be alive today if he had had babesia microti - but he did not and the hospital did not know how to test for babesia duncani or other strains of babesia.
Using babesia as an example - if you test for babesia microti but actually have babesia duncani then your test will be negative. There are about 110 strains of babesia and 300 strains of borrelia I think.
Tests for just the species - babesia or borrelia are not as specific or accurate as tests for just one strain.
Yes, better testing is needed - but it needs to be affordable and accurate.
At the ILADS conference the lab guys from IGeneX said they do not believe that the miyamotoi test referred to here is accurate. They are developing their own test which should be available in January I think they said.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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