Standard Lyme Tests Are Missing
74.9%
Of People With Lyme Disease
Which is another reason to...
Attention Doctors!
Treat the Patient, NOT The Tests!
CDC states.... It is possible for someone who was infected with Lyme disease to test negative because: Some people who receive antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) early in disease (within the first few weeks after tick bite) may not develop antibodies or may only develop them at levels too low to be detected by the test. Source
Remember, a negative test does not exclude
The diagnosis of Lyme disease!
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Attention Doctors!
Treat the Patient
NOT The Tests!
***
The CDC states.... It is possible for someone who was infected with Lyme disease to test negative because: Some people who receive antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) early in disease (within the first few weeks after tick bite) may not develop antibodies or may only develop them at levels too low to be detected by the test. Source
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Western Blot Bands Explained
List of Western Blot bands and explanations from various sources
9 cross-reactive for Borrellia
12 specific for Bb (Lyme)
18 flagellin fragment (Lyme)
20 may be cross-reactive for Borrellia
21 unknown
22 specific for Bb, probably really the 23/25 band
23-25 outer surface protein C (OspC), specific for Bb. Can be an early band.
28 OspD. Specific for Bb (Lyme).
[23-28] Potential for Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement.
30 OspA- substrate binding protein- common in European and
one California strain. Check for mycoplasma.
31 OspA, specific for Bb (Lyme).
34 outer surface protein B (OspB); specific for Bb (Lyme).
35 specific for Bb
37 FlaA gene product- specific for Bb (Lyme).
38 cross-reactive for Bb
39 BmpA- a major protein of Bb flagellin; specific for Bb- Sometimes found in those with joint involvement. It is the most specific antibody for borreliosis of all bands.
41 flagellin protein of all spirochetes. This is usually the first to appear after a Bb infection and is specific for all Borrellia. Can be positive due to relapsing fever, oral spirochetes and syphilis. Flagella or tail protein. Flagella is used to move Borrelia burgdorferi from point to point. Many bacteria have flagella. This is the most common borreliosis antibody.
45 cross-reactive for all Borellia (sometimes people with Lyme who have
this band positive also have the co-infection Ehrlichiosis). Heat shock protein. This helps the bacteria survive fever. The only bacteria that does not have heat shock proteins is Treponema pallidum, the cause of syphilis.
50 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
55 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
57 cross-reactive for all Borrellia
58 unknown but may be a heat-shock Bb protein- Check for viral infections
60 cross reactive for all Borrellia
66 Oms66- cross-reactive for all Borrelia, common in all bacteria- Check for E-coli
83 high molecular mass protein. Specific antigen for the Lyme bacterium. This is the DNA or genetic material of Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the same as 93, based on medical literature. Laboratories vary in assigning significance to the 83 versus the 93 band.
93 an immunodominant protoplasmic cylinder antigen, associated with the flagellum. Possibly the same protein as in band 83, just migrates differently in some patients.
NOTES:
When reporting bands, the reporting laboratory marks bands with the following indicators of intensity:
Other bacteria besides Borrelia burgdorferi may produce the 45, 58, 66, and 73 kDa bands.
Some patients might have an IgM response at the time of the EM rash. The IgG response tends to start several weeks after infection and peak months to years later. In some patients, the IgM response can remain elevated- in others it might decline, regardless of whether or not treatment is successful.
Many Lyme disease experts believe it is a mistake to exclude 31 and 34 kDa antibody proteins from the list of significant bands.
Lyme disease patients may not test positive for exposure to B. burgdorferi because their antibodies to the organism are bound up in immune complexes.
An indeterminate number of patients with late or chronic Lyme disease are simply seronegative for unknown reasons.
Some of The Reasons Why Someone Could
Have A False-Negative Lyme Test
Dr. Robert Bransfield
1. Recent infection- before immune response has had time to produce antibodies
2. Antibodies are bound in immune complexes
3. Spirochete encapsulated by host tissue (i.e. lymphocytic cell walls)
4. Spirochete is deep in host tissue (i.e. fibroblasts, neurons, etc.)
5. Blebs in body fluid, no whole organisms needed for PCR
6. No spirochetes in body fluid on day of test
7. Genetic heterogeneity (300 strains, 100 in U.S.)
8. Antigenic variability
9. Surface antigens change with temperature
10. Utilization of host protease instead of microbial protease
11. Spirochete in dormancy phase (L-form) with no cell walls
12. Recent antibiotic treatment for any condition
13. Recent anti-inflammatory treatment
14. Concomitant infection with Babesia may cause immunosuppression
15. Other causes of immunosuppression
16. Lab with poor technical capability for Lyme disease
17. Lab tests not standardized for late stage disease
18. Lab tests labeled "for investigational use only"
19. CDC criteria is epidemiological and is not a diagnostic criteria
20. Lack of standardized control
21. Most controls use only a few strains as a reference point
22. Few organisms are present
23. Encapsulated by glycoprotein "S-layer" which impairs immune recognition
24. "S"- layer binds to IgM
25. Immune deficiency
26. Possible down regulation of immune system by cytokines
27. Revised Western Blot criteria fails to include most significant bands
Source
www.mentalhealthandillness.com
***
A false-negative Lyme disease test is a disadvantage in several ways.
1. Your health care professional may not realize you have Lyme disease and not treat you as a result.
2. False negative tests may cause a delay in obtaining a proper diagnosis. Not receiving proper treatment in the early stages allows a complex infectious organism(s) to spread throughout your body, making your condition worse and allowing the disease to advance to later stages.
3. You may be improperly diagnosed with fibromyalgia, CFS, MS, Parkinson's, ALS, ADD, depression and other disorders when in fact Lyme disease is the underlying culprit. Treatment for those conditions will not reach the source of the problem.
4. A negative test provides the insurer another reason to deny your medications and any further testing or treatment for Lyme and tick borne diseases.
***
Johns Hopkins 2005 Lyme Test Study
Approximately 75% of people with Lyme are missed with standard testing methods
Study Here
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1248466/pdf/0742-05.pdf
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Lyme Disease Diagnosis
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IGeneX Lab
Over the years many informed health care professionals have stopped using the standard "insurance approved" Lyme tests and will send blood samples to labs that specialize in tick borne disease testing. If you would like to use a specialty lab to aid in the diagnostic process, you (or your doctor) can have a test kit sent to you upon request. For more information please contact:
795 San Antonio Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 1-800-832-3200 Toll free
Fax: 1-650-424-1196
Difficulty Affording Lyme Testing?
The Lyme Test Access Program (Lyme-TAP) is a nationwide patient assistance program offered by Ferndale Foundation in coordination with the Lyme Patients Assistance Group to provide assistance for initial Lyme-related lab tests to patients who demonstrate true financial need.
Lab Contact Information
(Human Testing)
Tick Borne Disease Testing
795 San Antonio Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 1-800-832-3200 Toll free
Fax: 1-650-424-1196
Adrenal Testing
Phone 619-223-7074
Detox Profile, Hair Testing
Phone 800-522-4762
Allergy, Hormone Testing
Phone 425-271-8689
Ion, Urine Testing
Phone 800-221-4640
Tick Borne Diseases
Phone 866-927-8075
Lyme Culture Tests
855-238-4949
Liver Enzymes, MTHFR, etc.
3101 Western Ave., Ste. 100, Seattle, WA 98121
800-TEST-DNA (800-837-8362) or 800-523-3080
Tick Borne Diseases
2439 Kuser Road
Hamilton, NJ 0869
877-269-0090
Bartonella & Other TBD's
7020 Kit Creek Road
Suite 130
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-313-9672
Laboratories Testing Ticks
Additional Options
795 San Antonio Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(800) 832-3200
Up to 20 ticks per batch
Multiple Tests- Each Test You Order Is $68.00
Lyme Disease (B. burgdorferi)
Babesiosis (B microti and/or B duncani)
Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia)
Bartonella henselae
Rickettsia
Relapsing Fever
More Information & Form
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Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
61 North Eagleville Road
Unit 3203 Storrs, CT 06269-3203
Phone: 860-486-3738
Fax: 860-486-2737
Deer Tick: 1-Panel PCR- Borrelia burgdorferi - $50.00
4-Panel PCR (Human Host) - Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Borrelia miyamotoi - $120.00
3-Panel PCR (Non-Human Host) - Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia miyamotoi - $100.00
Dog Tick: 3-Panel PCR (Any Host) - Francisella tularensis, Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia species - $100.00
Lonestar Tick: 3-Panel PCR (Any Host) - Francisella tularensis, Ehrlichia species, Borrelia lonestari - $100.00
Brown Dog Tick: (Non-Canine Host) - Rickettsia rickettsii - $50.00
2-Panel PCR (Canine Host) - Rickettsia rickettsii, Ehrlichia species - $80.00
More Information & Forms
http://cvmdl.uconn.edu/forms/ACCDOC007%20Tick%20Submission%20Form%20fillable%2012716.pdf
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Analytical Services, Inc.
Tick Testing
130 Allen Brook Lane
Williston, VT 05495
(800) 723-4432
Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) ONLY- $65 per tick
More Information & Forms http://www.analyticalservices.com/tick-testing.html
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Connecticut Pathology Laboratories
1320 Main St., Ste 24
Willimantic, CT 06226
(860) 450-1823
Individual Test (Borrelia, Anaplasma, or Babesia): $50.00
2-Test Panel (Borrelia and Anaplasma, Anaplasma and Babesia, Borrelia and Babesia): $80.00
3-Test Panel (Borrelia, Anaplasma, and Babesia): $100.00
Call number above for forms and instructions
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Imugen
315 Norwood Park South
Norwood, MA 02062
(800) 246-8436
DEER TICKS ONLY
$75.00 for B. burgdorferi (Lyme Disease spirochete)
$75.00 for B. microti (Babesia parasite)
$98.00 for both B. burgdorferi and B. microti
More Information & Forms
http://www.imugen.com/tick_testing.html
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Clongen Laboratories
211 Perry Pkwy #6
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(301) 916-0173
Multiple Organisms
Individual test (see list at website) – $75 two or more tests – $65 each except viruses. ColtiVirus: $195, Heartland Virus: $195, Powassan Virus: $195. All three viruses: $500
More Information & Forms
https://www.clongen.com/clinical-diagnostics-services/tick-testing-information/
***
Tick Chek- Tick Testing Services
1-866-713-Tick
East Stroudsburg, PA
Multiple Organisms- Check List Here
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Last Updated- July 2020
Lucy Barnes