I went to get my records from the hospital today. LLMD was interested in seeing some of the
results during my next visit. The hospital lab showed negative Lyme IGG and Lyme IGM. Please
tell me what you all think of this explanation on the results:
Test: Borrelia Burgdorferi Ab, IGG Western Blot IGG is positive with any 5 of the following 10 bands: 18, 23, 28, 30, 39, 41, 45, 58, 66 or 93 kDa. My result: Negative. Insufficient number of bands for positive result
Test: Borrelia Burgdorferi Ab, IGM western blot IGM is positive with any 2 of the following 3 bands: 23, 39, or 41 kDa. My result: Negative. Insufficient number of bands for positive result
This test didn't tell me what "insufficient" really means. I'm asking myself, did they find a
few, and if so, which ones. This isn't a typical result that I've seen on this site before and I'm
assuming its because it was done at a hospital lab? I am waiting on my results the LLMD sent to
Igenex. I can't help but wonder why my western blot wouldn't be positive when my LLMD and
primary care doctor are almost certain I have disseminated Lyme.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. I'm so confused over all of this.
Kelly
Posts: 64 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
You could have positive bands showing up, but since you likely had the very LAME test from Quest, they didn't bother to tell you WHICH bands were positive.
Your dr MIGHT be able to get the actual bands from the lab itself, but I don't know.
Have you read this very informative link on the testing??
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Most labs don't report back the actual bands. Igenex does. There are many reasons why you could be have Lyme and not be positive.
A major one is that the lab uses CDC requirements, which requires a large number of bands to be positive. There is absolutely no science behind the requriement of 5/2 bands positive.
The CDC also excludes band 31 because it is positive in people who had the vaccine. But, if you didn't get the vaccine, then 31 is a very sensitive Lyme band.
Some labs are also just not good at performing and reading the western blots. It's an art.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Thanks for the information. The more I read the better I understand all of this. The lab used
was ARUP Laboratories in Salt Lake City, Utah. Never heard of them before.
One more question: My CT scan of my head showed "tiny calcifications" at the vertex of the brain. Does anyone have any clue as to the significance of this finding with Lyme?
Thanks everyone, Kelly
Posts: 64 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Kelley,
I'm getting that the lab used was ARUP in Salt Lake City, Utah.
OK, now I'm pulling your leg! I see we had a minor multi-post meltdown this afternoon!
Tutu and Aniek are right. This lab result is useless. You COULD have significant bands reading positive and they simply choose not to tell you about them unless they're "CDC positive," I presume. What a load of hooey.
Also, they don't even bother to test band 31 and 34, the most specific bands of all.
You could be triple positive on those bands and lymed out totally, yet miraculously not meet these ridiculous and arbitrary CDC guidelines.
Your IGeneX results will be what a western blot SHOULD look like. But it will be intriguing to compare the two. Just for fun, ask the ARUP lab for a reading of all the bands, and whether any of them were positive. I'll be curious what they would say.
Let us know, 'kay?
Be well.
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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Kelly
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