accuracy of Lyme tests

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for any documentation that explains why the Igenex is

necessary and why the others tests aren't sensitive enough to detect

Lyme (could have false negatives). Where can I find this info?

Elyse

[Guest guest]

From Dr. , and found on various sites throughout the web...

begin quote:

Addendum Regarding Lyme Serology There are nine known [Lyme]

Borrelia burgdorferi Genus species specific KDA Western Blot antibodies (bands):

18, 23, 31, 34, 37, 39, 83 and 93.

Only one of these Borrelia burgdorferi genus specific bands is needed to

confirm that there is serological evidence of exposure to the Borrelia

burgdorferi spirochete and can confirm a clinical diagnosis of Lyme Disease.

CDC Western Blot IgM surveillance criteria includes only two burgdorferi

genus species specific antibodies for IgM 23 and 39 and excludes the other

seven Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies.

CDC Western Blot IgG surveillance criteria includes 18, 23, 30, 37, 39 and

93 and excludes bands 31, 34 and 83.

It does not make sense to exclude any Borrelia burgdorferi genus

species-specific antibodies in a Lyme Western Blot, and to include only two of

these antibodies in IgM because all the antibodies in IgG were once IgM.

IgM converts to IgG in about two months unless there is a persisting

infection driving a persisting IgM reaction. This is the case with any

infection including a Borrelia burgdorferi induced Lyme disease.

The CDC wrongfully includes five non-specific cross-reacting antibodies

in its Western Blot surveillance criteria: 28, 41, 45, 58 and 66. This leads to

the possibility of false positive Lyme Western Blots. There can be no false

positives if only Borrelia burgdorferi genus species-specific antibodies are

considered. One can have a CDC surveillance positive IgG Lyme Western Blot with

the five non-specific antibodies without having any Borrelia burgdorferi genus

species specific antibodies.

This does not make sense.

The CDC recommends that the Lyme Western Blot be performed only if there

is a positive or equivocal Lyme ELISA. In my practice of over 6000 children

with Lyme disease, 30% with a CDC positive Lyme Western Blot have negative

ELISA's. The Lyme ELISA is a poor screening test. An adequate screening test

should have false positives, not false negatives. "

end quote.

macedgeca <macedgeca@...> wrote: Hello everyone,

I'm looking for any documentation that explains why the Igenex is

necessary and why the others tests aren't sensitive enough to detect

Lyme (could have false negatives). Where can I find this info?

Elyse

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Encourage awareness by purchasing the

book Confronting Lyme Disease: What Patient Stories Teach Us and sharing it

with family, friends and acquaintances. Please see

http://www.confrontinglyme.com/ for more information.