IgG vs. IgM: Mycoplasma, EBV, HHV-6, HSV-1, HSV-2

In her recent post Mycoplasma - Overlooked in Lyme Disease, Pirouette got me thinking again about IgG versus IgM antibodies on lab tests.

From what I understand, IgM antibodies are supposed to indicate an active infection and IgG antibodies are supposed to indicate an recent/prior infection.

I've had a couple of IgM-positive results, but most have been (and, continue to be) IgG-positive. If the IgG values stay high or even increase, wouldn't that likely signal an active infection? I seem to remember some LLMD on one of the various "Summits" state that if the IgG value is 2-3 times (or more) higher than what's considered "Positive," then that's likely another indication of an active infection.

Here are some results from a few of my various labs results. At the very bottom is a link that will show the dates of the results over time.


Mycoplasma Pneumoniae IgG Abs
- Negative: <100
- Equivocal: 100 - 320
- Positive: >320
My Results: 692, 900, 769, 971, 849, 1010

EBV Early Antigen Ab, IgG
- Negative: <9.0
- Equivocal: 9.0 - 10.9
- Positive: >10.9
My Results: 20.2, 17.5, 22.0

EBV Ab VCA, IgG
- Negative: <18.0
- Equivocal: 18.0 - 21.9
- Positive: >21.9
My Results: >600, >600, >600

Human Herpes Virus (HHV) 6, IgG
- Negative: <0.76
- Equivocal: 0.76 - 0.99
- Positive: >0.99
My Result: 11.14

Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) IgG by ELISA
- Negative: <=0.89
- Equivocal: 0.90 - 1.10
- Positive: >1.11
My Result: 6.78

Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) IgG by ELISA
- Negative: <=0.90
- Equivocal: 0.91 - 1.09
- Positive: >1.10
My Result: 6.10

Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) IgG by ELISA
- Negative: <=0.90
- Equivocal: 0.91 - 1.09
- Positive: >1.10
My Result: 2.72

Parvovirus B19, IgG
- Negative: <0.9
- Equivocal: 0.9 - 1.1
- Positive: >1.1
My Results: 5.3, 7.1, 7.5, 6.0

Chlamydia Pneumoniae IgG
- Negative: <1:16
My Results: 1:128, 1:128, 1:256, 1:256

Chlamydia Pneumoniae IgM
- Negative: <1:10
My Results: 1:40, 1:80

Carbon Monoxide, Blood
- Normal: 0.0 - 1.9
My Results: 2.7, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7

Labs: bit.ly/2yAetvT

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Post Edited (The Dude Abides) : 10/24/2017 7:25:43 PM (GMT-6)

Girlie said...
...but with lyme the rules seem to change.

Very true...

k07 said...
Regarding your carbon monoxide - it also says auto exhaust is a common reason why elevated...

Thank you, k07. My Doctor had mentioned that, too. So, I bought a CO monitor and carried it in my car with me. The digital readout stayed at "0.0." We were both puzzled. I appreciate your mentioning it.

jackinthebox said...
I've been wondering about this stuff myself too, because I keep tested positive for Lyme IGG twice - even only like two weeks after symptoms really started. It kind of makes me wonder to myself, "what if I don't have an active infection, I just have some leftover IGG's from an old tick bite or something?"

But then, that doesn't really make sense either.

jackinthebox - This is why we can't go by WB test results to know when we've finished treatment. We need to go by symptom resolution...not another WB test.