OK I have another question. When I go to see Dr. Singleton next week I want him to do the test for my husband but my question is what is the difference between igenex and the western blot? Are they basically the same thing?
Most docs do an Elisa or similar type Lyme screening test first before the western blot. If you test positive for this screening test then they test you with the Western blot. I tested positive for the screening test and then also positive for the western blot. However, my boyfriend tested negative for the screening test twice. The second time he tested negative for the screening test while testing positive for the western blot. So I would not trust the screening test. Go straight for the western blot. It's more specific and reliable.
Last edited by Administrator; 10-16-2007 at 09:21 AM.
OK I think I got it now. The test done at the local lab places is the ELISA and only if that is positive, they move on to the western blot.
Now Igenex is the only place that does the western blot??
Rachel, You said your boyfriend tested negative for the elisa. Who ordered his western blot? Is he seeing Dr. Singleton?
I guess one by one, everyone needs to be tested in my house. Well I think my youngest is definately ok and maybe my middle boy. Buy not so sure abuot husband and daughter. I will find out Monday what I have to do.
A Western Blot is a type of test and Igenex is the name of a lab. From what I understand Igenex uses 100% pure Lyme antigen when conducting the test, whereas most labs use a lower percentage in order to cut costs. The test determines the amount of free-floating antibodies in the blood. In order to detect them, they must be exposed to antigen. If a more dilute concentration of antigen is used, there is less to react with and fewer antibodies may be detected.
