Re: Confusing test results

[Guest guest]

Rosebud,

All of the tests for Lyme disease are notoriously inaccurate.

Most of them measure (in some form or other) the body's immune response to a

specific strain or strains of Bb.

Bb, however, is very good at sideslipping our immune system and there are

many strains -- so one may be infected and not test positive.

The tests may also register positive when there is no infection (for

instance due to cross-reactivity with other organisms, contamination of the

sample, or just a poorly designed test).

The enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) test finds antibodies to Bb. There are

different types of antibodies which show up at different times in the course

of infection. There are different types of ELISA tests that look for

different antibodies. Some of the ELISA tests still used today look for

antibodies to strains of Bb that are more prevalent in Europe than in the

US.

The Western Blot tests are immunoassays that separate protiens in the sample

by molecular weight. These protiens show up as bands on the test, which, if

they correspond to bands of known positive samples of antibodies, can

indicate the presence of antibodies to Bb.

LUAT stands for Lyme Urine Antigen Test and (as the name implies) it looks

for antigens from Bb in the urine.

The PCR Polimerase Chain Reaction test looks for fragments of DNA specific

to Bb, and if it finds any, makes copies in a chain reaction until it is

easily detected. It is extremely sensitive and does not require that your

immune system be actively fighting Bb -- but there has to be some DNA in the

sample. If the sample of spinal fluid or blood that was taken does not have

a spirochete or bleb from a spirochete in it, the test will be negative --

it does not necessarily mean there are not Bb in the body.

No test (or series of tests) is 100% conclusive. Lyme is a clinical

diagnosis. Given that you have two of three tests reactive to Lyme, and

symptoms consistent with Lyme, I would give the diagnosis the benefit of the

doubt.

Ken

[ ] confusing test results

> Hi All. My test results are driving me nuts! I had spinal memingitis

> from Lyme disease (supposedly). My ELISA was positive but western

> blot negative. I had a spinal tap and my spinal fluid was reactive

> for lyme disease. Do I or do I not have it? What is this LUAT test

> you are all talking about and is it 100% conclusive. I would like to

> know exactly what I had so I can better understand and deal with it.

>

> Thanks alot.

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the world of confusion! We all have had the same problems with

testing. Positive this, negative that - urine, blood spinals all are

different. if you have a good LLmd he will treat on the clinical symptoms as

the tests can show a false reading. My spinal came up OK after being on ABs

for 8 months. Well of course itwould, My elysia was negative but the PCR and

western were positive. Who knows in this crazyworld of Lymies. Good luck KIM

[Guest guest]

Hi Chip,

You have just illustrated beautifully why we need to use the same

lab each time. Unfortunately, you can't compare the results done at

different labs.

As for the breakpoints, for reasons unknown to me, they changed the

way they report them but they are the same. In other words, e13a2

is the same as the old b2a2, and e14a2 is the same as the old b3a2.

These are the most common breakpoints seen in CML.

If you compare your results from diagnosis to your latest results,

it shows that you've had a 2 log reduction. This however, would

only really be accurate if the tests were done at the same lab which

I'm assuming they weren't since the breakpoints were reported

differently (the newer tests actually using the older method of

reporting).

It looks though like you're doing very well and certainly headed in

the right direction.

Take care,

Tracey

>

> Please help me understand this:

> Lab results sent to two different labs. One says zero signs of CML

> other shows a one log reduction.

>

> Diagnosed 7/11/2007 - Quan RT-PCR test showed following:

> Major e13a2 Major e14a2 Major Combined Minor e1a2

> 5.716% 5.003% 10.719% 0.007%

>

> 1/16/2008

> Not Detected>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>

> 4/5/2008

> Not Detected>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

> Above tests were done at Genzyme.

>

> Test done at LabCorp 10/25/2007 (note the transcripts are

different):

> b2a2 b3a2 e1a2

> 0.163 0.883 <0.001

> 4/5/2008

> 0.064 0.054 <0.001

>

> Besides the fact that the Onc office sent the test to two

different

> labs and the quality of care problems associated with that, the

issue

> is this.....have I had an MMR? One report says yes...one says no.

>