posted
Can indicate exposure to Lyme disease including in later stages of the disease.
Any other positive bands?
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 10171 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
Indeterminate results mean the INTENSITY of the patient’s antibody response is too weak to call positive. A band is considered positive if the intensity is at least 60% of the control. Many LLMD’s believe the total number of reactive bands and bands with intensities of 30% or higher should be considered.
Also different manufacturers of Lyme tests have different thresholds. Add to the fact that these are antibody tests and most Lyme patients have immune disfunction, they have difficulties in mounting an antibody response.
The 31 band represents a reaction with outer surface protein A (OspA). This particular antigen is expressed in the gut of the Ixodes tick, disappears in the salivary glands before the spirochetes are injected into the host and does not reappear in the host for at least six months.
This reaction is highly specific -- this protein is found only on the surface of Borrelia burgdorferi. These bands, 23,31,34,39,93 are known to be most specific for Lyme Disease. Some include the 18 band.
It is also widely reported that new bands will show up while in treatment.
It is frequently argued by the IDSA that Lyme disease must act in a particular way or test in a particular way because there are no precedents in nature to backup contentions to the contrary. This is simply not true.
The specific antibodies produced vary from patient to patient in ways that are impossible to predict.
So that means your IND 31 result showed band 31 but not enough of an antibody response.
The solution is to forget antibodies for diagnosis and stick to antigen and DNA test. But the CDC will not comply.
Ultimately it may come down to the doctor - patient relationship, and a patients comfort level with their doctor's interpretation. Patients should be aware of these complexities when requesting results from their doctor. Doctors who treat Lyme may all interpret these results through the lens of their own beliefs and experience.
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
I thought this was interesting. . .
In China, the criteria for a positive diagnosis of Lyme Disease were atleast one band!
posted
Our son's LLMD told us years ago that one band was enough to be positive for Lyme.
Posts: 9020 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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kgg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5867
posted
The CDC's requirements to have 5 bands positive is for surveillance only. But for decades now the medical profession has used it for diagnosis.
I understand Bartenderbonnie's explanation of intensity when reading the bands. But it has always struck me as being a little bit pregnant. You either are or you are not. Especially if it a specific borrelia band. Borrelia suppresses the immune response. This test is looking for an immune response. Do some treatment and re-test (a waste of money imo), the bands light up.
The CDC used to state that Lyme is a clinical diagnosis. Meaning you can't just rely on testing. They need to take in account a careful history, symptoms and physical exam. That is why we strongly encourage seeing Lyme literate docs. Too many mainstream physicians go by the IDSA guidelines saying, Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat. Man that has not been my experience!
Posts: 1844 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Bartenderbonnie: Indeterminate results mean the INTENSITY of the patient’s antibody response is too weak to call positive. A band is considered positive if the intensity is at least 60% of the control. Many LLMD’s believe the total number of reactive bands and bands with intensities of 30% or higher should be considered.
Also different manufacturers of Lyme tests have different thresholds. Add to the fact that these are antibody tests and most Lyme patients have immune disfunction, they have difficulties in mounting an antibody response.
The 31 band represents a reaction with outer surface protein A (OspA). This particular antigen is expressed in the gut of the Ixodes tick, disappears in the salivary glands before the spirochetes are injected into the host and does not reappear in the host for at least six months.
This reaction is highly specific -- this protein is found only on the surface of Borrelia burgdorferi. These bands, 23,31,34,39,93 are known to be most specific for Lyme Disease. Some include the 18 band.
It is also widely reported that new bands will show up while in treatment.
It is frequently argued by the IDSA that Lyme disease must act in a particular way or test in a particular way because there are no precedents in nature to backup contentions to the contrary. This is simply not true.
The specific antibodies produced vary from patient to patient in ways that are impossible to predict.
So that means your IND 31 result showed band 31 but not enough of an antibody response.
The solution is to forget antibodies for diagnosis and stick to antigen and DNA test. But the CDC will not comply.
Ultimately it may come down to the doctor - patient relationship, and a patients comfort level with their doctor's interpretation. Patients should be aware of these complexities when requesting results from their doctor. Doctors who treat Lyme may all interpret these results through the lens of their own beliefs and experience.
quote:Originally posted by hiker53: Can indicate exposure to Lyme disease including in later stages of the disease.
Any other positive bands?
No..Igenix Did have two moderate bands on my Vibrant test last fall. Was positive in the mid 2000's
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