Hi,
My son received the results from the Western Blot. Could someone help me interpret the results. The report reads as follows from LabCorp:
Lyme IGG Bands Negative
POS: 5 of the following Borella-
specific bands: 18, 23, 28,
30, 39, 41, 45, 58,, 66, and 93.
Neg: No bands or banding
patterns which do not meet
positive criteria.
Lyme IGM Bands Negative
Pos: 2 of the following bands: 23,
39, or 41
Neg: No bands or banding patterns
which do not meet positive
criteria.
P39AB Absent
P39 IGM Absent
P66 AB Absent
P41 AB Present *
P41 IGM Absent
P58 AB Absent
P18 Absent
P30 AB Absent
P93 AB Absent
P28 AB Absent
P23 IGM Absent
P45 AB Absent
P23 Absent
I wish I had help or input for you but I do not. My question is basically the same of yours, however I do not at this time have a copy of my results, I will get them. I have no idea in this world how I can test positive for lyme antibodies and have a obvious bulls eye rash yet be told I do not have lyme. I am on doxycycline, day 6 of 14 days, 200 mg a day, but most of my symptoms still persist. I did call the Lyme Disease Assoc today for a lyme literate doctor in my area today, and they did return my call promptly. Maybe you should do this same thing. They are a non profit organization, and I do not think it is against any policies here, but their # is 1 888 366 6611, follow the computer prompts and leave a message and someone will call you back with doctor referrals for lyme specialists. I think that may be your best option at this point. Even though I am being treated, and I got back for another lyme titer after November 16, I get the feeling that I will not be treated aggressivly enough. I do not want this disease to take over my life and affect me years down the road. My bulls eye rash has only been there since the end of August, so I am hoping it is still early enough to combat the side effects of lyme. Please be aggresive as possible in your sons care, this is nothing to fool around with.
Dear KY91RS, I'm not sure how to interpret your son's test results. My western blot format is completely different, as it was performed by a different lab. Why was your son tested? Does he have symptoms of lyme or a bulls-eye rash? I can tell you that many labs can give you a false negative test result. I recomend you have your son retested through IGeneX lab in California. They are believed, by many people, to be the best in lyme testing. Many experienced lyme doctors believe that any positive bands on a western blot indicate lyme disease, even though the CDC has much stricter criteria. If your son's doctor will not retest through IGeneX lab, I suggest you call the lyme disease association 1-888-366-6611 for a referral of an experienced lyme disease doctor in your area. Most all doctors agree the quicker you recieve treatment the better chance of recovery, and serious illness. I wasn't tested until six years after becoming ill, and am doing very poorly, and have not responded to any treatment yet. So if you think there's a chance your son has lyme disease, insist on retesting and adequate treatment by a lyme literate doctor. Let me know if you have any more questions, and good luck. lyme7yrs
Thanks everyone for the replies. I deeply appreciate
you taking the time to reply to my post.
I live in Louis***** KY and my son is attending college in Bowling Green KY which is where I am for the weekend (for the pupose of reviewing test results).
Lyme7yrs, he developed a bulls eye rash after returning from Washington DC to participate in the Army 10 Miler race on October 4, 2003. He called me one night and described a rash on his right arm. I told him to go to the ER at a local hospital. Diagnosis - poison oak. Received medication rash on arm went away. Called me 3 days later and described a rash on his right side (rib area) that was different and had a ring around it. Again, I told him to go to the ER. The ER physician suspected Lyme and prescribed Doxycycline and predisone (sp?).
He is on Day 9 of 10 days. 100 mg twice a day. After reading results yesterday, I called the hospital and was told he tested negative. At that point I argued with the ER physician that Fact 1 - he had a bulls eye rash Fact 2 - Band 41 was present in Western Blot. I want the prescription refilled for Doxycycline until I can figure out the best course of action over the next few weeks. Even though I obviously made the physician mad by arguing/ disagreeing over the results of the Western Blot, he agreed to call in a refill for the antibiotic Doxycycline.
The bulls eye rash disappeared (after the 3rd day of Doxy). My son says he has not had any other symptoms ie, dizziness, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, headaches, etc.
From your post: I recomend you have your son retested through IGeneX lab in California.
[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 10-25-2003).]
KY91RS no Lyme test is completely reliable and most people test negative early in the infection. A bullseye rash is a definite sign of Lyme Disease.
200 mg of Doxy per day is not strong enough for Lyme and ten days of treatment is not long enough. It is my understanding that the minimum treatment time for an infection that is caught within two weeks of the bite is six weeks. A longer infection needs longer treatment. If symptoms are still present, further treatment is warranted. Getting the proper treatment early in the infection may reduce the chance of long-term complications. From what I udnerstand, steroids should not be given to people who have Lyme because it can make the symptoms much worse.
Was you son tested for the co-infections that ticks can transmit--Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis HME & HGE, and Bartonella? Many people who have Lyme are co-infected.
It is very important for your son to be evaluated by a Lyme knowledgeable doctor. He is lucky to have you looking out for him.
Western Blot Results Today 
Linear Mode
