s reaction to the Lyme bacteria, the PCR test looks for DNA of the Lyme bacteria in your blood -- that is, a direct test, rather than an indirect test like W.blot/ELISA.
Docs who are not particularly up to date on Lyme do not 'believe' in the PCR test but do believe that W.blot/ELISA is fully accurate. If you need help finding a Lyme specialist who understands all this, let us know.
Last year my general doctor tested me for Lyme and I got the results as Serum levels and it was negative, so is this Elisa test ? Or western blot ?
Is this serum test is the only one available out there ( not considering private labs like Igenex )
The reason I ask is because I was hoping that if the test I had was Elisa ( and I know it's not accurate) that I can at least let my doctor order western blot this time if they have it..
So, I've had various symptoms over the past few years. These symptoms include things like balance issues, stiff and soar neck, tingling in hands and feet, fatigue, trouble concentrating, increased anxiety, trouble putting thoughts into words, general brain fog, increased floaters in eyes, and visual snow. I remember having a vivid bullseye rash several years ago, but I've had three ELISA Lyme Disease tests, and they have all came back negative.
I was tested for lyme disease over a year ago by my family physician. Test results came back negative. I was reading an article in a magazine concerning symptoms of lyme disease and everything listed as symptoms I seem to have. I am trying to find a specialist in my area who is knowledgable in this area. Should I have another blood test done to see if things have changed?
hmm, I think you have a pretty good reason to start reading all you can about Lyme disease, btw there is no "s" in lyme disease.
Here's what I did:
go to lymenet.org
click on Flash Discussions
then Medical Questions it's a large site filled with lymies and they offer tons and tons of support and info. There's a link called Newbie Links on the Medical Section. I would also suggest you post this very question there.
other sites to visit..ILADS.org canlyme.
My husband had a tick on him which we removed, but not sure how long it was there. He has had peripherial neuropathy which his doctor advised was something he needed to see a neurologist. I ask if a Lyme Disease test could be performed. The doctor glared at me and said "there has never been a case of lyme in Kentucky", but told me he would do the test. Today, my husband saw this doctor and was told out of the 7 items needed to prove lyme, all he had was muscle weakness.
you can have Lyme, but the test can show negative, since the ELISA/Wblot test can be fooled into not detecting the immune reaction.
By contrast, the newer and differently structured IGeneX test doesn't play hide-and-seek like ELISA/Wblot does: instead, IGeneX looks for Lyme genetic material (DNA) in your blood, which is a direct test and no fooling around playing hide-and-seek.
Thats a difficult question. Elisa lyme test a is common test doctors use to diagnose Lyme. It test for the antibodies in your blood. As well as the Western blot test which is usually used after Elisa to confirm. Western blot is more accurate, but the accuracy rate among these types of test is about 40-60% depending on when you contracted the disease. The best way to rule out Lyme's is to see a LLMD doctor who specializes in Lyme and can run a specialized panel.
So-called mainstream docs rely almost entirely on the usual tests, which you probably had (called W. blot and ELISA -- they are usually done one and, if the first one comes back positive, then the second one is done to be sure it wasn't a false positive.)
The bad news is that getting a negative (no you don't have Lyme) on these two tests doesn't mean you don't have Lyme. The tests are not very accurate.
Sorry, we get in the habit of using abbreviations without remembering that not everyone knows what they are.
-----------------------------------------
CDC = Centers for Disease Control: US government affiliate that keeps an eye on diseases that can be passed through the population, like flu and measles .... and Lyme. The CDC does research as well.
A Lyme specialist (aka LLMD, not a degree or title, just patient shorthand for a doc who thinks bigger thoughts about Lyme; short for Lyme-Literate Medical Doctor) may run the W.
You want to know about Lyme disease then I suggest you go to a forum that discusses it.
Greetings --
I'm with Katya, that a bit more investigation may well be worthwhile.
IGeneX has a number tests, and your MD may want to test you (perhaps in addition to Western blot) run a test called PCR, short of polymerase chain reaction.
PCR tests look in your blood for the DNA (unique cellular material) of the Lyme bacteria, and it quite reliable ...
They sent a sample to the MAYO clinic and those results showed she tested positive for Epstein Bar disease and Lyme disease. They're telling us the lyme disease is a false positive due to epstein bar. I think they also said she has lymphomitosis due to the epstein bar. This has been drug out for a month now and she has been in a lot of pain. Jaw pain, joint pain, aches, cramps, shortness of breath etc.
Hi Goldie23
You are asking good questions --
I'm guessing FMS means fibromyalgia? MPS and DDD I don't know. Lyme patients are sometimes told they have fibromyalgia, a disease syndrome with no known cause or cure. We do know however that Lyme is caused by a specific bacterium and is treatable.
I told her to check for everything that is why she checked and then the Lyme came out positive on both tests. I have hear that HIV can make a Lyme disease test mess up ( I have read it online) also other diseases and bacteria can too. I am just very worried because I have no recollection of any "bites" or any rash what so ever on my body at all. I have been going crazy with this anxiety and haven't slept much at all and wake up about every hour.
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