Question about Bartonella Labs

In 2014 five mos. after my initial dx for Lyme, my LLMD was suspecting my trouble maybe more Bartonella related and I agreed to shell $800 for the Galaxy test. Lo & behold it came back negative and by the time I got the results, I had more or less recovered from my symptoms after 6 mos on orals.

I was told that after being on ABX this wakes up the bacteria and negative lab results miraculously become positive. My symptoms I'm told are very Bartonella, but then I was told at another forum that if the Galaxy test is negative, you probably don't have Bart.

Thoughts... explanations?

Post Edited (ElizKA26) : 11/16/2019 10:31:30 AM (GMT-7)

Yes, I was on Bactrim and Omnicef when I did the Galaxy test. This was back in 2014 & it was negative.

This was about 5/6 mos after a negative IgG neg Elisa, IgM Pos WB for Lyme.

Bartonella is elusive. I had PCR tests done several times, and only one came up positive. One thing that was surprisingly consistent was that vitamin B6 would be elevated when bartonella was active. It also tended to cause increased bilirubin when it attacked the red blood cells.

I've def had high B6, wonky RBC's and low ferritin.

Yes, it must really be elusive!

ElizKA26 said...
Probably bc you weren't a ninny like I was and shelled out $800 for a lab test. LOL!

I could've jinxed myself too. I told my LLMD "watch I'll go through all of this paying $800 & the test will be negative."

A couple of weeks later she was like "you called it!"

Fortunately, I was able to get reimbursed through my insurance.

What was the $125 test you did? Thanks!

I’m in Canada.
I had been treating lyme and bart - when I took a break from my LLND at the time. Went to a different LLND for another opinion and she said she was trying this lab with her patients - even tho it wasn’t recognized - she was having good success with it.

http://www.dna-human.com/dna_test.asp

I’ve thought about retesting there bcuz it’s so cheap - but at one point I thought they had closed - haven’t followed up.

@Girlie, thanks for the info! I will look into it. I guess it doesn't really matter. It's highly suspected and on my LLMD'S radar.

I did test pos for Lyme so that's def evidence enough that I likely have Bart. I have been around cats my entire life, and had one for five years.

It just be would that much more reassuring to know. Thanks, regardless!

Saraeli- Galaxy is considered one of the best for Bartonella testing. They look at the standard henselae strains as well as others less common. Upwards of $1000 to test. I did and was a big fat negative.

Needless to say, on my recurrence, I neglected to retest again.

Yes to all your questions. Tested in Dec. 2014 got test results in Jan. Even after the negative result my LLMD was still convinced I had Bart. I def responded better to Lyme treatment w/Bart ABX.

I don't know how my B6 is coming up bc I haven't had it looked at lately. It was high in 2014, and normal in 2017. But I do have low ferritin with a normal colonoscopy. So that may be what's causing it.