posted
Hello, When my doctor dx me w/lyme, I don't remember going over my test results. The reason might have been that I became a little emotional and starting crying.
So, a couple of days ago, I was looking for something and came across my test results.
Positive Bands were 31 and 41. IND Bands were 34 and 39.
Just wanted to get your opinion.
Thanks so much
Posts: 83 | From Tennessee | Registered: May 2010
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I'm a little brain dead at the moment, but i will certainly check out the link you gave me.... thanks a bunch Posts: 83 | From Tennessee | Registered: May 2010
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posted
People don't always test strongly at first. Sometimes it takes some treatment to boost the immune system to start showing up more on the tests.
Have you seen a Lyme-literate doctor yet?
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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TNT
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 42349
posted
According to IGENEX's 2/11/2014 revised interpretation, IgM is considered positive for borrelia if two or more of the double-starred bands are present (the double-starred bands according to IGENEX are 23-25, 31, 34, 39, 41, and 83-93).
If only bands 31 and 41 are present (positive), results are considered indeterminate.
If less than two of the starred bands are present, it is considered negative by IGENEX.
According to CDC/NYS criteria, IgM WB is positive if two of the following bands are present (or positive): 23-25, 39, and 41. If less than two are present, it is negative.
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IGENEX's criteria for a positive IgG WB is the same as their criteria for positive IgM.
Just like IgM, according to IGENEX, IgG is indeterminate if only bands 31 and 41 are present.
IgG is negative if less than 2 bands from the starred group are positive.
By CDC/NYS criteria, IgG WB is positive if 5 of the following bands are present (or positive): 18, 23-25, 28, 30, 39, 41, 45, 58, 66, 83-93. It is considered negative if less than 5 of these bands are present.
A couple qualifications are listed:
According to CDC/NYS, positive IgM or IgG SUGGESTS EXPOSURE To Bb. Go figure.
Positive results for bands 31 and/or 34 may be present after Lyme vaccination (LYMErix shot) in uninfected persons.
Infection with HSV, EBV, HCV, and/or syphilis (RPR+) may give false (+) results.
Confirmation test for band 31 is recommended when only starred bands 31 and 41 are present in non-vaccinated persons.
*(All of the above information I got from my WB test results from IGENEX)
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** Now, something I would like to emphasize with the above last paragraph is the fact that bands do cross-react with other infections.
My understanding is that western blotting is a general technique and not only used for testing for lyme. There can be quite a bit of overlap depending on the pathogens.
Two of the most lyme-specific bands are very cross-reactive with brucella. They are bands 31 and 41. Band 18 could be included as well.
And, I personally feel that brucellosis is very underdetected in the US. I would seriously consider a case of brucellosis if one has few lyme symptoms but positive results with bands 31, 41, or even 18 (and perhaps more bands that I'm not aware of).
Even if you DO have lyme symptoms, they really do overlap with brucellosis symptoms. But, there are some subtle differences between the two. Take joint pain for instance. Lyme and Brucellosis both give joint pain, but Brucellosis usually does not cause inflammation and swelling in the joints like lyme.
Even yeast can cross-reactive with some of the lyme-specific bands:
posted
I googled Brucellosis and you can contact the
bacteria through undercooked meat. All this
started after I had eaten sushi...My symptoms
were gradual over about a year and a half... Then
I reached a point I couldn't get out of bed...
Can you be tested for Brucellosis??
Posts: 83 | From Tennessee | Registered: May 2010
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TNT
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 42349
posted
I can't say I ever heard or read of getting brucellosis from raw fish, but definitely from under-cooked beef, pork, lamb, etc.
Your typical local lab can run anti-body tests. I don't know how accurate they are. I have read that for chronic brucellosis, the tests may not pick it up. You can also get a PCR from a couple specialty labs. The best test is supposed to be the Coombs test, according to the World Health Organization.
People most at-risk for brucellosis are those exposed to farm animals or dogs. Or, if you eat raw dairy products straight from the farm such as milk or raw cheeses. Farm families and veterinarians are at-risk people groups.
It is very contagious as a "contact" disease.
It can be passed through breast-feeding, and has been reported to be passed sexually. I personally think even the casual passing of brucellosis is something that has been minimized. If it can be spread through the air (which is well-known)....what about kissing, drinking from the same cups, etc. I'm not paranoid, but people with compromised immune systems could be extremely susceptible.
Oh, yes, sorry, this is not a brucellosis thread....
You can get nasty parasitic and protozoan infections from eating sushi. I would definitely look into what those are.
Posts: 1308 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Oct 2013
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