posted
I got a copy of the Lab report on my Lyme test. All along I thought I had a Western Blot done but when I read the results and the Lab reccommendations I think I just had some type of screening test done. Can anyone interpret this for me.
There were 2 tests, I think that were Lyme related. #1 was called (and this is how it appears on the report)
LYME DISEASE, EIA W/REFL IGG, IGM WESTERN BLOT.
Next to the line that said LYME DISEASE, EIA W/REFL it has an EIA VALUE reference range. My EIA value was <1.00 so considered negative. Under that is an explanation of the EIA values. There are no references to bands at all.
What gets me is directly under this is written: ".. due to FDA reccomendations all positive or equivocal Borrelia Burgdorferi antibody EIA (screening) tests will be followed by the western blot." Then a warning about the accuracy of the predictive value of the screen in says, "...positive or equivocal results should not be interpreted as a true positive until a 2nd step testing of the specimen is done using a method that is more specific for antibodies to B. Burgdorferi (E.G. Western Blot)"
DID I ONLY GET A SCREENING TEST???? What was this test? Where can I get more info on it and it's accuracy?
#2 test (I think this is also related to my Lyme testing) exactly as it appears on the report as:
ANA SCREEN EIA W\REFL TITER IFA ANA SCREEN NEGATIVE
What the heck was this and where do I get more info on this screening test?
Posts: 23 | From Philadelphia, PA, USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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I had a western blot from Quest and the results didn't have the bands. All it had was some final score, if you will, that had that <1.00 score on it.? The test said negative...my Igenex score three months later was positive.
Whatever you had I would skip what they tell you and go straight to Igenex.
posted
Lenny, mine was Quest too. Same results as yours. What I see from the report, (I have to read it several times to digest it and interpret it) It really appears to just list Western Blot as a test but the test was never done. I think what the report says is that the lab would go on to do a Western Blot only if they got a positibe or equivocal result in the initial screening. As far as which lab to use, I was leaning to convincing my doctor to use Bowen Research facility.
Posts: 23 | From Philadelphia, PA, USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Often, doctors or labs will use the ELISA test as a screen for the Western Blot. If you're negative on the ELISA, they don't give you the Western Blot.
I think it is based on a CDC recommendation. But the ELISA has a large number of false negatives. So you can get tested and have a negative, and then never get the Western Blot.
Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
You might want to consider asking (demanding?) that your doctor order testing from a Lyme-literate lab such as Igenex or MDL. Both have web sites and you can download lab orders to give to your doctor. Make sure specimens are not mailed on a Friday. They need to be processed the next day. I spent a lot of money for testing the reliability of which I must now question because, not knowing any better at the time, I let them (LabCorp - this "branch" draws and sends specimen to MDL) draw on a Friday.
Posts: 977 | From Austin, TX, USA | Registered: May 2004
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