Just a refresher...My IGM result from Quest on the WB came back "presumptively positive"
I took a recent test by IGeneX. It came back negative. The IGM had IND listed for all of the bands with a star (23-25), 31, 34, 39, and 83-93.
I had ++ for 41, 58, 66 (41 was the only band with a star next to it)
It reads that the starred bands have the most significance.
Also, I read somewhere that if you are on steroids, the test might give a false negative because it weakens your immune system and your body stops producing antibodies. I'm working my way off the steroids. Also, I have a super low white blood count. Is this indicating that my body might not be fighting an infection (immunosuppresed?)
The IGM had IND listed for all of the bands with a star (23-25), 31, 34, 39, and 83-93.
I had ++ for 41, 58, 66 (41 was the only band with a star next to it)
Also, I read somewhere that if you are on steroids, the test might give a false negative because it weakens your immune system and your body stops producing antibodies. I'm working my way off the steroids. Also, I have a super low white blood count. Is this indicating that my body might not be fighting an infection (immunosuppresed?) =============================
What about the IgG????
Yes, the steroids may have skewed the results. I think the low wbc can be from ehrlichiosis, which is a coinfection of Lyme. Someone here will know. My memory is not good on that one.
As for your bands.......I would say you have it. That is just my non-medical, very experienced opinion.
Bands 39 and 83-93 are EXTREMELY significant. What you are showing is a weak positive. An IND is a weak positive.
31: Outer surface protein A (osp A). 34: Outer surface protein B (osp B).
39: Unknown what this antigen is, but based on research at the National Institute of Health (NIH), other Borrelia (such as Borrelia recurrentis that causes relapsing fever), do not even have the genetics to code for the 39 kDa antigen, much less produce it. It is the most specific antibody for borreliosis of all.
41: Flagella or tail. This is how Borrelia burgdorferi moves around, by moving the flagella. Many bacteria have flagella. This is the most common borreliosis antibody.
58: Heat shock protein.
66: Heat shock protein. This is the second most common borrelia antibody.
83: This is the DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the same thing as the 93, based upon the medical literature. But laboratories vary in assigning significance to the 83 versus the 93.
93: The DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi.
Dr C of MO in the explanation of the WB says this about the bands:
"The significant antibodies, in my opinion, are the 18, 23-25, 28, 30, 31, 34, 39, 58, 66 and 93."
Also from the above link:
"Many would say the " +/-" equivocal ["IND"] bands are not significant. The problem I have with that, is that there are "-" negative bands. The lab has no trouble calling some bands negative. So they must be seeing something when they put "+/-" at some bands.
The only thing that makes sense, is that there is a little bit of that antibody present in your serum. If the "+/-" equivocal is reported on the borrelia associated bands, it is usually significant, in my clinical experience. This is a strong clue that I am on the right track."
Nothing is more important than the DNA of the Bb!!!!!!!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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I know....it's confusing. Be sure to read the entire link above and even the replies to the link. Very important!
From the above link:
"One of my hopes is that doctors will someday realize that this controversy is a signal for them to search for the truth. Why is there such conflict in this very "political" disease if there is not substance for disagreement? Both IgG and IgM Western blots should be done for borreliosis.
With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Also any NSAID's like celebrex can cause false negatives. I went off my for a month then retested and unfortunately came up postive for chronic Lyme.
Also, I read somewhere that if you are on steriods, the test might give a false negative
Diva
-------------------- Theresa Posts: 16 | From Florida | Registered: Jun 2007
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Dr. Bransfield's Reason's for Seronegativity the reasons why you can test negative and still have Lyme disease.
1. Recent infection before immune response 2. Antibodies are in immune complexes 3. Spirochete encapsulated by host tissue (i.e.: lymphocytic cell walls) 4. Spirochete is deep in host tissue (i.e.: fibroblasts, neurons, etc.) 5. Blebs in body fluid, no whole organisms needed for PCR 6. No spirochetes in body fluid on day of test 7. Genetic heterogeneity (300 strains, 100 in U.S.) 8. Antigenic variability 9. Surface antigens change with temperature 10. Utilization of host protease instead of microbial protease 11. Spirochete in dormancy phase (L-form) with no cell walls 12. Recent antibiotic treatment 13. Recent anti-inflammatory treatment 14. Concomitant infection with babesia may cause immunosuppression 15. Other causes of immunosuppression 16. Lab with poor technical capability for Lyme disease 17. Lab tests not standardized for late stage disease 18. Lab tests labeled "for investigational use only" 19. CDC criteria is epidemiological not a diagnostic criteria 20. Lack of standardized control 21. Most controls use only a few strains as reference point 22. Few organisms are sometimes present 23. Encapsulated by glycoprotein "S-layer" which impairs immune recognition 24. "S"- layer binds to IgM 25. Immune deficiency 26. Possible down regulation of immune system by cytokines 27. Revised W.B. criteria fails to include most significant antigens
============ Personally, I don't think Lily's test is "negative."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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