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
***
Lyme Disease Diagnosis
Explanation of Tests Used
***
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:
IGeneX, Inc.
795 San Antonio Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 1-800-832-3200 Toll free
Fax: 1-650-424-1196
http://www.igenex.com
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)
IGeneX, Inc.
Tick Borne Disease Testing
795 San Antonio Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 1-800-832-3200 Toll free
Fax: 1-650-424-1196
BioHealth Diagnostics
Adrenal Testing
Phone 619-223-7074
Genova Diagnostics
Detox Profile, Hair Testing
Phone 800-522-4762
Meridian Valley
Allergy, Hormone Testing
Phone 425-271-8689
Metametrix
Ion, Urine Testing
Phone 800-221-4640
Fry Laboratories, L.L.C.
Tick Borne Diseases
Phone 866-927-8075
Advanced Laboratory Services
Lyme Culture Tests
855-238-4949
Genelex Lab
Liver Enzymes, MTHFR, etc.
3101 Western Ave., Ste. 100, Seattle, WA 98121
800-TEST-DNA (800-837-8362) or 800-523-3080
Medical Diagnostic Lab, LLC
Tick Borne Diseases
2439 Kuser Road
Hamilton, NJ 0869
877-269-0090
Galaxy Diagnostics
Bartonella & Other TBD's
7020 Kit Creek Road
Suite 130
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-313-9672
Laboratories Testing Ticks
FREE Tick Testing
Additional Options
IGeneX, Inc.
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
http://www.igenex.com
***
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
***
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
***
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
***
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
***
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