LymeNet Flash: antibiotic challenge before igenex testing?

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » antibiotic challenge before igenex testing?

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Topic: antibiotic challenge before igenex testing?

robin_wachs
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 3525

posted

My son is going to have western blot testing on monday. Ten years ago when I was tested for the fist time, the protocol for someone not diagnosed yet with Lyme was to take antibiotics for a few days prior to testing. This presumably would increase the chance of a positive test if the patient in fact had Lyme.

Additionally, if a patient was being retested and was currently on antibiotics, the protocol was to stop antibiotics for a week or two, again this presumably would increase chances of getting a positive test.

Nowadays, no such antibiotic challenge is suggested. Does anyone have any comments on this. It seemed to me that the protocols above DID increase the positive tests for me back in the day. To antibiotic challenge, or not to antibiotic challenge, that is the question.

Robin

Posts: 103 | From California | Registered: Jan 2003 | IP: Logged |

Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524

posted

I believe if you intend to get test with a Lyme

specific lab like Igenex you may not be wasting

your money by not challenging but I would not

be on antibiotics for at least 14 days prior to

draw. But if you are getting it done by some

other labs who are not so specific I would do a

challenge so I would not be wasting my money.

--------------------
Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region
unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND
IgM neg pos
31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 +
DX:Neuroborreliosis

Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008 | IP: Logged |

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