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» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » False Positives???

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Author Topic: False Positives???
msalilea
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Is that possible?

The only lab I know the name of that they ran & came up positive was the Western Blot. I do need to get a copy from my Doc. I am waiting for her to call.

But does anyone know... Can you get a false positive on a Western Blot Test?

Thanks!

Posts: 14 | From CA | Registered: Sep 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
TF
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Suggest you read "Dr. C's Western Blot Explanation." It is a thread that is near the top of this Medical Questions forum.

Here is a little of what he says:

"Medical literature is replete with statements about false positive test results for Lyme borreliosis. Since 1988, I have diagnosed and treated well over 600 borreliosis patients. Only 2 of those patients with a positive borreliosis test did not respond to antibiotics. This is a 99% success rate!

So in the trenches of day-to-day medical practice, false positive borreliosis tests are not an issue. In retrospect, those 2 patients that did not respond to antibiotics may have also had babesiosis."

So, the lyme doctor is saying that if you got a positive on the Western Blot and you have symptoms, you have lyme disease. You do NOT have a false positive test.

Meanwhile, doctors who do not specialize in lyme disease treatment keep telling people they have false positive tests. That's because it is what they have been taught to tell you. This is wrong!

You need to find a good lyme doctor. Post in "Seeing a Doctor" and make the title of your post "Seeking a Dr. in Texas."

Good for you for finding LYmeNet. Now, once you get to a good doctor, you will begin getting rid of this horrible disease.

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gemofnj
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hi ms,

whats most important is what symptoms are you feeling?

what bands were positive? here is a list of what the bands represent. some are VERY specific to lyme.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Lyme-Disease/Western-Blot-band-information/show/935003

my western blot was positive too. my md said it was CDC positive -- bands #23 & #41.

the infection disease doc said is was a false positive. i quickly moved on to an LLMD.

It was DEFINITELY positive and I had lyme without a doubt.

i was treated for 9 months after 7 months of not knowing what was wrong with me. Currently, i am in remission, but could relapse at any time.

please read these guidelines and print for future use.
http://www.lymediseaseresource.com/BurrGuide2008.pdf

i strongly recommend seeking out a lyme literate doctor that follows ILADS guidelines.

lyme doctors treat patients based on symptoms NOT test results. see the list of symptoms in the guidelines above.

you can go to the front of this board and post in 'seeking a doctor.'

you may also have 'coinfections' that are organisms that travel with the lyme bacteria. a good llmd will be thorough and test for these and assess your symptoms too.

good luck and keep us posted. [Smile]

Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Pinelady
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It is the bands that tell the tale.

It is not like a flu dip stick for which I believe

can be positive when it is actually Lyme.

But I think it is very rare to have a positive WB

and not be true. It is very common to have neg but

common to have indicator bands which should not

be dismissed.

--------------------
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

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msalilea
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Thank You so much for the info!

I have taken your advice & got a list of LLMDs.

This is so hard for me to wrap my head around, I have been told & believed for the past 8 years that I have Lupus.

Will get a copy of my labs & see the llmd & go from there, Thanks again!

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msalilea
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I have almost all the symptoms listed as lyme, just got my labs in...

bands 41 & 23 present
& positive to lyme IgM WB Interp.

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hv2laf
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Question. Ill keep it short and then everyone can ask questions as necessary.
I have MANY symptoms. Some starting March of 2009 which alot of them are pretty scary at times. If you look up symptoms of heat shock, partial seizures, panic attacks.. etc. My list of symptoms fit in there.
My primary doctor is "confused" on whats going on. ER docs think Im having panic attacks or hyperventilating myself. So I paid out of pocket to see a Lymes specialist because I read up on it. Dont recall a tick bite and my symptom fits in there, though Lymes covers just about any symptom you can have. Now on to labs.
Lymes specialist after talking with him says and I quote.
"I believe I know whats going on here, your symptoms are consistent with Lymes. Not only Lymes but two co-infections you can get. Bartonella and Babesia. He ordered:
IgeneX Western Blot IgG IgM-
IgM read: (all read negative except)
**23-25kdA: IND
**39 kdA: IND
**41 kDa: IND
IgG read: (all negative except)
**31 kDa: +++
**34 kDa: IND
**41 kdA: +
Bartonella Microscopy read:
"Few coccobacilli adherent to erythrocytes indicated by yellow arrow(s). This is suggestive of hemobartonella(1) hemoplasma(2)"
CD-57 Sticker panel read:
% CD8-/CD57+ Lymphs - 6 %
Abs. CD8-CD57+ Lymphs - 168 /uL

Neutrophils - 33% (LOW)
Lymphs - 50% (HIGH)

PREVIOUS CBC's on ER visits since March Ive had
MARCH read:
Lymph% - 47.8 (HIGH)
Lymph# - 3.2 (HIGH)
APRIL read:
Lymph# - 3.5 (HIGH)
JULY read:
ASAP WBC- 11 (HIGH)
Lymph# - 3.8 (HIGH)

Does this ONLY signify Lymes or can it be anything that react like it. Would anything else show like this. Parasite infection, bacterial infection. STDs, HIV, or anything. I showed my doctor these labs for Lymes he says he doesnt believe thats whats causing it. Nor will anyone else but the Lymes Specialist diagnosed me with Chronic Lymes disease.

Any insight? Anything else I should try?

I also had 1 noted "hyper intense increased signal on frontal deep white matter" on brain mri which some refer to as a lesion. I was being checked for MS. That was all that was noted.

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hv2laf
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Also note.
Ive been on Omnicef and Levaquin antibiotics. They seem to be helping at least with the "shock" episodes.
Since I have been on antibiotics I havent had anymore episodes but still have inflammation in my eyes and pains in the usual spots. My stool is coming out alot better than it was and more consistent like it should.

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bettyg
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hv2laf ,

i sent a pm too and broke up his post so he can start his own post so it's not lost in this other post!! so wait for him to post and then send any replies at that time ok folks [Smile] big thanks

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gemofnj
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ms,

glad you are seeking a lyme literate doctor.

good luck and keep us posted. [Smile]

Posts: 1127 | From atlantic city, nj | Registered: May 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

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