need help reading my western blot results - Lyme Disease Message Board

zandvoort · 06-05-2007, 09:43 AM

Hi- Would love some assistance. I went to the doc yesterday and he said I did not have lyme- none of the bands showed up. I wanted to be sure he meant NONE of the bands showed up and not just none of the CDC bands. So I looked at my test results. It does look like I do not have one single band but I wanted to check with people on this board. If there is any doubt, I want to get an Igenex test.

Here is what the results look like:

Lyme EIA 1.13 LIV (Equivocal if 0-1.2)

Lyme G West Ref
Bands present: NONE
(Insufficient bands for a positive result)
Test information: Borrelia Burgdorferi Ab, IgG Western blot IgG positive: Any 5 of the following 10 bands: 18,23,28,30,39,41,45,58,66 or 93 kDa.
Result: Negative

Lyme M West RFX
Bands Present: NONE
(Insufficient bands for a positive result)
Test information: Borrelia Burgdorferi Ab, IgG Western blot IgG positive: Any 2 of the following 3 bands 23,39 or 41 kDa.
Result: Negative

Thanks!

ticker · 06-05-2007, 01:21 PM

Hi zandvoort. Which lab did the Western Blot? It is important to be tested by a Lyme lab such as IgeneX. They use more sensitive testing and list more bands on the Western Blot.

The most important thing you can do to rule out or confirm Lyme disease is see a Lyme knoweldgeable doctor.

zandvoort · 06-08-2007, 06:49 AM

Hi Ticker- the lab was ARUP. Have you heard of them? I've gone to their website to try and get some help with the reading but nothing there. I think it so odd to have NO bands present. I've had chicken pox- you'd at least think that would show up!

ticker · 06-08-2007, 07:12 AM

Hi zandvoort. I have never heard of this lab. I would get tested at IgeneX if I were you.

Bill S · 06-08-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zandvoort

Hi- Would love some assistance. I went to the doc yesterday and he said I did not have lyme- none of the bands showed up. I wanted to be sure he meant NONE of the bands showed up and not just none of the CDC bands. So I looked at my test results. It does look like I do not have one single band but I wanted to check with people on this board. If there is any doubt, I want to get an Igenex test.

Here is what the results look like:

Lyme EIA 1.13 LIV (Equivocal if 0-1.2)

Lyme G West Ref
Bands present: NONE
(Insufficient bands for a positive result)
Test information: Borrelia Burgdorferi Ab, IgG Western blot IgG positive: Any 5 of the following 10 bands: 18,23,28,30,39,41,45,58,66 or 93 kDa.
Result: Negative

Lyme M West RFX
Bands Present: NONE
(Insufficient bands for a positive result)
Test information: Borrelia Burgdorferi Ab, IgG Western blot IgG positive: Any 2 of the following 3 bands 23,39 or 41 kDa.
Result: Negative

Thanks!

Looks like this lab is using the old CDC-criteria of 5 bands, despite the CDC saying their criteria was to be used ONLY for their tracking purposes, not using it for diagnosis. I think Igenex uses 3 bands out of 10...and the Elisa is equivacable (ie, maybe positive). The Elisa isn't all that accurate anyways.

Yep, I'd get re-tested by a reputable lab.