lyme test result questions

Hi All,
Quest Elisa positive (1.24). Quest Western Blot negative on all bands.
Igenex IFA negative. Igenex IgM positive on bands 39, 41, 45, and 66. Igenex IgG positive on bands 41 and 58.
Does anybody know the significance or not of any of these bands? My Dr has NO idea what any of it means.

Currently waiting for results of 30+ new blood tests drawn last week. Some of the tests relate to Lyme co-infections.

Also, any suggestions for Dr in the Sacramento area?
Thank you!

Hi Mareish!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

I​​f you haven't ​yet​, it would be helpful for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled,"New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as it is packed full of important information, symptom lists, helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, information on probiotics and much more.

​ And, here's another good place to find helpful detoxing routines: ​http://www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html​​

Well, the fact that you got a positive on the Elisa tells you that you have Lyme. It's not easy to test positive on the Elisa, particularly from labs like Quest and Lab Corp because they don't use the more sensitive methods for testing.

Band 39 is Lyme specific. A "Lyme specific band" means specific for Borrelia Burgdorferi, sensu stricto - Lyme disease in the strictest sense. There are only ​two​ on the over 300 known strains of Lyme that is considered Bb, ss. Nothing else will turn a Lyme specific band positive other than Lyme disease.​

​
An IgM result means that you have an active infection. It once was thought to mean an 'early' infection, but has since been revised. IgG means that the infection is at a later stage.

The more +'s you have beside a number, the stronger the reaction.

​
IND means indeterminate - not negative, but not quite strong enough to be "fully positive". But it means that you reacted on those bands and should be considered, especially when they are Lyme specific bands.

​ For information on finding a​n ILADS ​(International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society)​ trained​ Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, you will need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.

​​ You can go to The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:
​​www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74​​

​
You ​​can send me an email by clicking on my screen name or the small blue envelope under my screen name. I may have contact information for some LLMD's in your area as well.​ ​Please include your state and area that you would like to find a LLMD in and I will see how close I can get to your location.​

​​ You can email the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at
​[​​url]​medicalinfo@tbdalliance.org​ for LLMD referrals

​​ILADS has their own referral system as well:
​​​​http://ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/

And www.LymeDoc.org

You will want to find an ILADS trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) as well as many others, believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. Go to the ILADS site to read the new (2014) Treatment guidelines to get you started on your healing journey: www.ilads.org/lyme/treatment-guideline.php

You are all so wonderful! Thank you.

Does your dr understand the concept of "slightly pregnant"? As Traveler has noted, you have Lyme, specifically the Borrelia Burgdorferi variety. Labcorp, Quest/Solstace labs are unreliable. Welcome to the jungle. There are lots of here, searching for a way out. Join the troops.

I would encourage you to stick with LLMD's from here on out though, the others don't know the way out of the jungle either.....

Your story is so much like so many others here, including my own. Sooo many doctors and they all told me that I was the healthiest 90 year old they had seen - the problem? I was only in my 20's at the time.

Traveler - WOW! Thanks for that great explanation of how to interpret test results.

Interesting. Thank you, k07. Yes, Bartonella is one of the ordered tests.

Does anyone know if there as many false test results with the different co-infections tests as there are with the Lyme tests?

mareish said...
Interesting. Thank you, k07. Yes, Bartonella is one of the ordered tests.

Does anyone know if there as many false test results with the different co-infections tests as there are with the Lyme tests?

Unfortunately the coinfection testing produces even more false negatives than Lyme.
In fact some LLMD's don't worry about testing for the coinfections - they diagnose clinically and some LLMD's will even even just treat the three B's.

lymetwistontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/01/western-blots-what-do-all-of-those-darn.html

The link explains what the bands mean. 39 is a Lyme specific band which can mean only one thing-your body is producing antibodies to fight Lyme and that only happens if you have Lyme. Welcome to the club-we're great, sorry you had to become a member.

I'm in San Jose and can give you the names of Lyme docs in the San Francisco area.

*Old Salty-slightly pregnant-too funny.

mareish said...
Thank you, Girlie. I should hear within the next week about latest results. In the meantime I am on the search for a LLMD with the invaluable help of Traveler.

You're welcome! Yes, Traveler is a gem!!

mariesh: Igenex is certified by both the State of California and State of NY as well as other certifying agencies. Because they produce more accurate results, many drs don't trust them. Which only reinforces the stupidity and hubris of some drs. Bartenella is harder to detect through lab blood testing than borrelia. Get a copy of "Why Can't I Get Better" by Dr. Richard Horowitz. A great source that explains the misconceptions of most drs and how to do an accurate diagnosis.

Remember to ask to be put on the cancellation list so you will get a call if someone cancels their appt!
Best of luck!

So so helpful in explaining test results!!!!!!

Traveler said...
Hi Mareish!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

I​​f you haven't ​yet​, it would be helpful for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled,"New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as it is packed full of important information, symptom lists, helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, information on probiotics and much more.

​ And, here's another good place to find helpful detoxing routines: ​http://www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html​​

Well, the fact that you got a positive on the Elisa tells you that you have Lyme. It's not easy to test positive on the Elisa, particularly from labs like Quest and Lab Corp because they don't use the more sensitive methods for testing.

Band 39 is Lyme specific. A "Lyme specific band" means specific for Borrelia Burgdorferi, sensu stricto - Lyme disease in the strictest sense. There are only ​two​ on the over 300 known strains of Lyme that is considered Bb, ss. Nothing else will turn a Lyme specific band positive other than Lyme disease.​

​
An IgM result means that you have an active infection. It once was thought to mean an 'early' infection, but has since been revised. IgG means that the infection is at a later stage.

The more +'s you have beside a number, the stronger the reaction.

​
IND means indeterminate - not negative, but not quite strong enough to be "fully positive". But it means that you reacted on those bands and should be considered, especially when they are Lyme specific bands.

​ For information on finding a​n ILADS ​(International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society)​ trained​ Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, you will need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.

​​ You can go to The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:
​​www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74​​

​
You ​​can send me an email by clicking on my screen name or the small blue envelope under my screen name. I may have contact information for some LLMD's in your area as well.​ ​Please include your state and area that you would like to find a LLMD in and I will see how close I can get to your location.​

​​ You can email the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at
​[​​url]​medicalinfo@tbdalliance.org​ for LLMD referrals

​​ILADS has their own referral system as well:
​​​​http://ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/

And www.LymeDoc.org

You will want to find an ILADS trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) as well as many others, believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. Go to the ILADS site to read the new (2014) Treatment guidelines to get you started on your healing journey: www.ilads.org/lyme/treatment-guideline.php