I got a script to go to a lab from a doctor. This doctor isn't a LLMD but thought chronic late lyme could be causing my unexplained symtomns (Trigeminal pain, Fasiculations and Arthritis.) This doctor is at least pretty open minded, as every other doctor wont even bother with a Lyme test.
They wrote "total Lyme antibody." Is this western blot or something else? Good test or not?
Finally, any tips on what i shouldn't eat/take before testing so that it wont interfere with the results?
Thank You
Posts: 4 | From Cleveland, OH | Registered: Aug 2008
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Hey star...
Nice to see you. Glad you have a doc that is willing to try.
This is the basic screening test for Lyme. It is infamous for missing many people who are infected, especially in the later stages of the disease... or in the first month after being bitten by a tick.
But it is a start. And who knows, it might show a positive.
I've had over 40 of them.. with all but a couple being positive. So it does happen.
If it comes back positive.. then a Western Blot is usually done.
I wouldn't count on that happening though. You need to be your own advocate and push for what you think you need... so you may need to push to get a Western Blot later.
BUT.,. a positive ELISA usually is good enough to get most non-LLMD's helping you.
Unless this is a Cleveland Clinic duck?
Hope not!
Anyhow.. welcome and keep learning.
PS.. As far as food before the test. I've not heard of any restrictions.
nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
Is it too late to cancel that test and ask him to order you an Igenix WB IgG and IgM? He sounds like a reasonable doctor so far - if you can gather your info (with our help if you need it) about this test, he seems like he would be open to the information and a change of procedure here.
Might as well start with the benchmark Western Blot testing (Igenex or another TBD reference lab) and save your money/blood - why waste it on a useless test that won't be used as confirmation even if it comes back positive?
In short, that's a bad test, and your doctor seems to be thinking logically in your case and so might be open to some info about this.
"Lyme disease is usually diagnosed and treated based on clinical manifestations.
However, laboratory testing is useful for patients with confusing presentations and for validation of disease in clinical studies.
Although cultivation of Borrelia burgdorferi is definitive, prior investigations have shown that no single test is optimal for Lyme disease diagnosis.
We applied high-volume blood culture, skin biopsy culture, PCR, and serodiagnosis to a cohort of patients with suspected Lyme disease acquired in Maryland and southern Pennsylvania. The study was performed to confirm the relative utility of culture and to identify laboratory testing algorithms that will supplement clinical diagnosis.
Overall, 30 of 86 patients (35%) were culture positive, whereas an additional 15 of 84 (18%) were seropositive only (51% total sero- and culture positive), and PCR on skin biopsy identified 4 additional patients who were neither culture nor seropositive.
Among 49 laboratory test-positive patients, the highest sensitivity (100%) for diagnosis was obtained when culture, skin PCR, and serologic tests were used, although serologic testing with skin PCR was almost as sensitive (92%). Plasma PCR was infrequently positive and provided no additional diagnostic value. Although culture is definitive and has a relatively high sensitivity, the results required a mean of 3.5 weeks to recovery.
The combination of acute-phase serology and skin PCR was 75% sensitive, offering a practical and relatively rapid alternative for confirming clinical impression. The full battery of tests could be useful for patients with confusing clinical signs or for providing strong laboratory support for clinical studies of Lyme disease."
It discusses types of testing, how they are done, their strengths and weaknesses, and the best route to take if you decide to get tested. It also gives more info about Lyme itself and the body's response to it.
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
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