Immunoblot/Elisa Igg Testing

[mam295]

Grace:

I saw an answer you gave on one of your posts that a test with a positive or negative warrants retesting with a test that gives numeric values.  Doesn't the Immunoblot just give a positive or negative?  I've always understood that the Immunoblot was comparative to the Elisa testing.  IS there a difference between these two tests as far as accuracy that you know of?  Would there be a reason to choose Elisa over the Immunoblot?  ...and/or  Are there inaccurate tests out there that give a positive/negative that doctor's offices are still using that is not the Immunoblot but is still considered an igg test?

[gracefromHHP]

they are almost the same test, just done a different way in the lab.

[mam295]

This didn't have anything to do with my testing --I know a positive culture always wins over blood testing.   I was just asking in general because I had given someone information on testing and from the reply I saw started to question the positive or negative tests vs tests with numeric values.

So both the Immunoblot and Elisa are basically the same type of tests it sounds like?

[gracefromHHP]

you had a + lesion culture yourself correct? so you know what you have and where you have it.

yes, the immunoblot gives a + or - result only, not any numeric results. since the test has the same false positive issues as the regular herpeselect, it still needs confirmed when you only have a + result and not a lesion culture of symptoms to confirm infection.

grace