Aa
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what does this mean. It says follow up with PCR test if double star bands are + or IND. Is that right?
igm
18 -
23-25 -
28 -
30-
31 ++
34 ind
39 ind
41++
45 -
58 -
66 -
83-93 +
igg
18 +
23-25 -
28 -
30 -
31 ++
34 -
39 ind
41 ++
45 -
58 ++
66 -
83-89 -
igm
18 -
23-25 -
28 -
30-
31 ++
34 ind
39 ind
41++
45 -
58 -
66 -
83-93 +
igg
18 +
23-25 -
28 -
30 -
31 ++
34 -
39 ind
41 ++
45 -
58 ++
66 -
83-89 -
Sorry, didn't mean to sound harsh. Hope things go well -- keep us posted! Fingers crossed for you --
I didnt say it was useless. I was just putting info out there that I thought would be helpful for some. EBV is not the only virus that can cross react with some bands of igenix western blot. If someone thinks there is a chance that it could be a possibility then they should order the Igenix PCR test, Thats the one that checks for the lyme dna and not antibodies. It will confirm either way. As far as I am concerned I am not sure yet because my pcr was negative. I have to see my llmd on wednesday to decide what to do.
Do you have other Lyme-positive bands which do NOT cross-react with EBV?
Are there other tests on which you are positive that do *not* cross react with EBV?
And for those of us without EBV, it would not appear to be an issue, so the test is not entirely useless.
Are there other tests on which you are positive that do *not* cross react with EBV?
And for those of us without EBV, it would not appear to be an issue, so the test is not entirely useless.
Yea I do as well. It depends on which test the igg requires 5 bands 18, 25, 28, 30, 39, 41, 45, 58, 66, 83-89.
the igm is different for cdc its 2 of these bands 12-25, 39, 41.
I had one on igm and three on igg. but what I learned is that some of these bands even the ** ones that are supposed to be lyme specific can be triggered by other viral antibodies. It explains it right on the Igenix results sheet. It just so happens that the ones I had positive on is the same ones that have a limitation for ebv antibodies. I just thought was interesting to know. I thought some may want to look into their results with this in mind!
It says on the IGM test bands 31, 41, and 83-89 cross react with other virus
It says on the IGG test bands 31, 41 cross react with other virus.
the igm is different for cdc its 2 of these bands 12-25, 39, 41.
I had one on igm and three on igg. but what I learned is that some of these bands even the ** ones that are supposed to be lyme specific can be triggered by other viral antibodies. It explains it right on the Igenix results sheet. It just so happens that the ones I had positive on is the same ones that have a limitation for ebv antibodies. I just thought was interesting to know. I thought some may want to look into their results with this in mind!
It says on the IGM test bands 31, 41, and 83-89 cross react with other virus
It says on the IGG test bands 31, 41 cross react with other virus.
CDC positive is at least 5 bands but I think Jackie has a chart for which bands on the IgeneX test can show positive for other things and some are Lyme specific.
Well I learned some things and got a few answers. May clear some questions up about how these test work. Igenix basic lyme panel is a w blot test. It looks for antibodies same as any other lab. There difference is it is more sensitive and they check for more bands. To get the lyme DNA test your talking about you order the PCR. It cost a bit more. What I have learned from my LLMD is that some of the bands of the Igenix test can show a reaction due to other viral antibodies. Like EBV. I had a extremely high positive result for EBV a couple months ago so I may have to confirm everything with another test in a few weeks or pay the money to have the PCR done now.
You ask: "so in your opinion what does my results say??? inconclusive? positive? negative?"
If you would provide the test results WITH asterisks as shown on the test, it will give us more data to comment on. It really does make a difference.
You say: "I am getting mixed opinions about igenex testing. Ive been told twice that most people would be positive under their criteria."
There is a war on in the Lyme world: docs who don't think Lyme is serious don't see a need for testing the way IGeneX does, and those are the docs who miss a lot of real Lyme disease cases.
Why? The older tests (ELISA and Western blot) look for your immune system reaction to the presence of Lyme bacteria. If the test is positive, it's reliable; however if the test is negative, it could well be wrong and you really could have Lyme. The reason is that the ELISA/Western blot tests look for your immune system reaction to determine whether you have Lyme. The problem with that approach is that Lyme bacteria can and do *suppress* your immune system, so the ELISA/Wblot tests can say 'negative' when you really do have Lyme -- it's just that your immune system is not functioning because the Lyme bacteria have the ability to suppress the action of your immune system. Then the test can't pick up the positive indicators, and you can have a raging case of Lyme but the test says no.
That is why many Lyme docs use IGeneX testing (in addition to ELISA/Wblot), because IGeneX tests do not rely on the measurement of your immune system reaction: IGeneX testing instead looks for direct evidence of Lyme DNA in your blood.
===>>> Recently there have been some posts here stating that IGeneX testing is not needed because it is not accurate or something, but I have not seen that poster explain *why*. I would be very interested in that person's explanation. I don't recall who it is who is posting that, but please explain if you see this post.
Summary: Among Lyme specialists, the IGeneX tests are considered far more accurate than the ELISA/Wblot tests:
-- If the IGeneX test says positive, it is very likely accurate; if it says negative, it is also likely very accurate.
-- If the ELISA/Wblot tests are positive, it is likely accurate, but if it says negative, it can very well be WRONG and you could well have Lyme.
If you would provide the test results WITH asterisks as shown on the test, it will give us more data to comment on. It really does make a difference.
You say: "I am getting mixed opinions about igenex testing. Ive been told twice that most people would be positive under their criteria."
There is a war on in the Lyme world: docs who don't think Lyme is serious don't see a need for testing the way IGeneX does, and those are the docs who miss a lot of real Lyme disease cases.
Why? The older tests (ELISA and Western blot) look for your immune system reaction to the presence of Lyme bacteria. If the test is positive, it's reliable; however if the test is negative, it could well be wrong and you really could have Lyme. The reason is that the ELISA/Western blot tests look for your immune system reaction to determine whether you have Lyme. The problem with that approach is that Lyme bacteria can and do *suppress* your immune system, so the ELISA/Wblot tests can say 'negative' when you really do have Lyme -- it's just that your immune system is not functioning because the Lyme bacteria have the ability to suppress the action of your immune system. Then the test can't pick up the positive indicators, and you can have a raging case of Lyme but the test says no.
That is why many Lyme docs use IGeneX testing (in addition to ELISA/Wblot), because IGeneX tests do not rely on the measurement of your immune system reaction: IGeneX testing instead looks for direct evidence of Lyme DNA in your blood.
===>>> Recently there have been some posts here stating that IGeneX testing is not needed because it is not accurate or something, but I have not seen that poster explain *why*. I would be very interested in that person's explanation. I don't recall who it is who is posting that, but please explain if you see this post.
Summary: Among Lyme specialists, the IGeneX tests are considered far more accurate than the ELISA/Wblot tests:
-- If the IGeneX test says positive, it is very likely accurate; if it says negative, it is also likely very accurate.
-- If the ELISA/Wblot tests are positive, it is likely accurate, but if it says negative, it can very well be WRONG and you could well have Lyme.
so in your opinion what does my results say??? inconclusive? positive? negative? I am getting mixed opinions about igenex testing. Ive been told twice that most people would be positive under their criteria. Thanks !
I don't have my old test results at hand, but the 'double star' bands are ones that have asterisks by the band numbers. Such as:
**45
Bands with those asterisks are considered to be more reliable and important in making a Lyme diagnosis or in ruling it out.
The plus signs (+) have a different purpose: if there is a plus it means that the test reacted positively, meaning that Lyme bacteria are present. The more "+" signs by a band, the stronger the reaction and the more certain the diagnosis. Even a few + signs are something an MD should pay attention to.
IgM and IgG are timing indicators: the body's immune system makes IgM antibodies to fight an infection early in the illness, while it makes IgG antibodies to fight an infection later in the illness.
If you will repost with asterisks (*) shown as on the test, that would help us comment.
**45
Bands with those asterisks are considered to be more reliable and important in making a Lyme diagnosis or in ruling it out.
The plus signs (+) have a different purpose: if there is a plus it means that the test reacted positively, meaning that Lyme bacteria are present. The more "+" signs by a band, the stronger the reaction and the more certain the diagnosis. Even a few + signs are something an MD should pay attention to.
IgM and IgG are timing indicators: the body's immune system makes IgM antibodies to fight an infection early in the illness, while it makes IgG antibodies to fight an infection later in the illness.
If you will repost with asterisks (*) shown as on the test, that would help us comment.
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