posted
I checked the newbie links (those are great BTW) and took a look at the section on the Western blot tests and what they mean.
I have a question though. According to the newbie link thread, it says that #41 is the first to show positive for lyme exposure, followed by 23 and then the other #s.
What is the difference between the Igg and Igm #s? I didn't see the answer in that section.
In our case, my daughter's results showed 41 as being positive (+++). What is the significance of the three +?
#23 was negative. Some of the other key #s were marked IND.
Bottom line - Igenex considered the test a negative, but the newbie link indicates this may not be right in our case.
I was faxed the results by the doctor's office, but have not spoken to him yet. Of course, I'd love to get some info on this and am wondering if anyone here can shed some light for me?
Thanks!
Posts: 40 | From Pasadena | Registered: Jun 2006
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SunRa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3559
posted
Hi julier
I'm by no means an expert in this area, but it's my understanding that IgG generally indicates a chronic, or past exposure while IgM would indicate a more recent, active infection.
But that may not always be the case, I'm not sure.
+++ would indicate a very strong response.
is 41 the only band that showed up?
Sorry, I don't know your daughter's history/symptoms,etc. do you know when she was bitten/possibly infected? If she was bitten very recently, it could take a while for her body to produce the antibodies that would show up in testing, and if that's the case, your dr would most likely go ahead and treat first.
I would talk to your dr about the test results. Without clear positive test results to aid in the diagnosis, your dr will want to pay close attention to her clinical picture. Wish I could help more. Good luck to you and your daughter!!! Posts: 1563 | From MA | Registered: Jan 2003
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Julie, if you could type both the IGM & IGG numbers below that are POSITIVE, we can help you interpret.
Aren't TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE LINKS fantastic with the help of the members constantly giving him more links to add? KUDOS TREE!
Someone else on the boards was asking about their results. One of the members had a very simple but user-friendly way of explaining difference between IGM & IGG...but I can't remember! darn this neuro lyme mind of mine....
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My daughter was dx with RMSF back in March - two months after she became seriously ill and unable to walk.
She was given 10 days of Doxy and that's it. This is July and she is still ill (although started to be able to walk a month ago) everyday.
We were referred by a friend to an LLMD here in L.A. and he is convinced she has lyme. He had her tested at Igenex and I still have not spoken with him about these results.
Igenex did recommend re-testing based on the results.
Here are the numbers:
IGG - 39 IND 41 +++ The rest are negative on IGG
IGM - 30 + 31 IND 39 IND 41 + 83-93 IND
As a newbie, I hope to one day be able to help others as much as the veterans have helped me with this struggle. Thank you!
Julie
Posts: 40 | From Pasadena | Registered: Jun 2006
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NP40
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6711
posted
Julie, the doc may want to treat her anyhow. If 39 is "Ind" that basically means that there's something there, but not quite enough to label it as a positive. 39 is the most specific for lyme.
She does have a positive for band 30. Certainly it's worth trying an abx challenge for a month to see her response. Ten days of doxy won't do anything, not nearly long enough.
If your daughter is little you should know that doxy can stain her teeth. If it was my child and the doc was willing to treat, I'd do it. If she herx's then you know for sure you're on the right track.
Posts: 1632 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
Thanks for the response NP40. We just got a month's worth of Doxy from the infectious disease doctor (he really didn't want to do it, but my husband insisted).
After reading other people's experiences on this board, I'm also convinced that there is no way 10 days of Doxy was enough.
Posts: 40 | From Pasadena | Registered: Jun 2006
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
Be sure to read the above link and especially the highlighted portions. Your daughter's IND's are the same as this dr refers to as "equivocal"...Equivocal was the old term.
Read what he says about equivocal and about the IgG and IgM. VERY important to understand those two things.
If your daughter's IND's were actually + then there would be NO DOUBT at all about her test result. I have no doubt this is a positive.
Band 39 is VERY SPECIFIC for Lyme. Period.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96227 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Hi Lymetoo - I do have a supposed LLMD, but I'm having trouble reaching him to discuss these results. Going to try again tomorrow. They are so busy I guess.
The Doxy is 100 mg twice a day. Is that a good start in your opinion?
Thanks for your support - I appreciate it.
Julie
Posts: 40 | From Pasadena | Registered: Jun 2006
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
I'm with Tutu here. Looks like lyme to me, 'specially in conjunction with daughter's symptoms.
Here is what Dr. D, a famous LLMD/professor has to say about western blot bands. Pay close attention to the 30 band, which is positive! Please find an LLMD; your doctor will NOT have a clue, that's a promise. He is just as likely as not to mistake a herxheimer reaction for a "bad reaction to the drug" and take her off the very thing that's helping her. And so on.
Good luck.. Ask lots of questions!
Michelle
Michelle
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"These bands are 18, 22, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 37, 39, 41, 83, and 93. This is true regardless of whether it is IgG or IgM.. But again, there is no universal agreement on the significance of these bands. Betina Wilska, M.D. from Germany is one of the world's experts on outer surface protein A (31 kDa).
At the international borreliosis conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, I asked her personally about the 30 kDa band. She told me it was the same as the 31 kDa band (osp A).Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
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