western blot at stony brook

[Hopeny]

My 8 y/o is seeing a rheumatologist at Columbia for newly dx Lyme, although I think she has had it since April 2010. She has been having arthritis in her hip and knee, among other things. Doctor is not confident in her 2 bands (IGM 23 and 41 present) Lyme diagnosis and after a 5 week wait from the last day of 28 days of amoxicillin, wants to do a western blot at Stonybrook. Just curious if anyone knows, would the antibiotics likely make the test negative after a 5 week wait? Any feedback is welcome.

[momcap]

My 8 y/o is seeing a rheumatologist at Columbia for newly dx Lyme, although I think she has had it since April 2010. She has been having arthritis in her hip and knee, among other things. Doctor is not confident in her 2 bands (IGM 23 and 41 present) Lyme diagnosis and after a 5 week wait from the last day of 28 days of amoxicillin, wants to do a western blot at Stonybrook. Just curious if anyone knows, would the antibiotics likely make the test negative after a 5 week wait? Any feedback is welcome.

 

I don't think antibiotics affect the western blot - but maybe someone more experienced will chime in here. My DS8 was on prophylactic amoxicillin for almost a year (for PANDAS), and then 30 days of high dose augmentin and then 30 days of high dose biaxin before we realized it was lyme and ran the western blot. His test came back positive, with 5 IgM bands (some even ++++, and 4 IgG bands. We tested via IgeneX and I contacted them first and asked if he needed to be off antibiotics for the test. They said no, he did not have to be off antibiotics for a western blot. Is there a contact number for Stony brook, that you could ask them directly if the 28 days of amoxicillin will have affected the results?

 

P.S. Our ID doc recommended testing through Stony Brook. He told me to be SURE that on the requisition form the box is checked that says report all bands. Otherwise you will just get a positive or negative without any further information. That was a year ago. Not sure if that's still the case, but you might want to check the form to be certain.

[SSS]

Band 23 positive- and band 41 positive-

along with the clear present symptoms (and I'm sorry your child is going through this)

Many LLMD's would consider this a clear case of Lyme. You may have to go that route for proper treatment.

My .02 cents.

[Hopeny]

Band 23 positive- and band 41 positive-

along with the clear present symptoms (and I'm sorry your child is going through this)

Many LLMD's would consider this a clear case of Lyme. You may have to go that route for proper treatment.

My .02 cents.

Thank you, I am trying to find an LLMD. My daughter's symptoms have begun creeping back since the second week off antibiotics.

[Hopeny]

My 8 y/o is seeing a rheumatologist at Columbia for newly dx Lyme, although I think she has had it since April 2010. She has been having arthritis in her hip and knee, among other things. Doctor is not confident in her 2 bands (IGM 23 and 41 present) Lyme diagnosis and after a 5 week wait from the last day of 28 days of amoxicillin, wants to do a western blot at Stonybrook. Just curious if anyone knows, would the antibiotics likely make the test negative after a 5 week wait? Any feedback is welcome.

 

I don't think antibiotics affect the western blot - but maybe someone more experienced will chime in here. My DS8 was on prophylactic amoxicillin for almost a year (for PANDAS), and then 30 days of high dose augmentin and then 30 days of high dose biaxin before we realized it was lyme and ran the western blot. His test came back positive, with 5 IgM bands (some even ++++, and 4 IgG bands. We tested via IgeneX and I contacted them first and asked if he needed to be off antibiotics for the test. They said no, he did not have to be off antibiotics for a western blot. Is there a contact number for Stony brook, that you could ask them directly if the 28 days of amoxicillin will have affected the results?

 

P.S. Our ID doc recommended testing through Stony Brook. He told me to be SURE that on the requisition form the box is checked that says report all bands. Otherwise you will just get a positive or negative without any further information. That was a year ago. Not sure if that's still the case, but you might want to check the form to be certain.

Thank you, I will do so. What is ++++? Her first test in 2010 had Band 41 reactive, the most recent test (not Stonybrook)said "present". Is this different?

[momcap]

 

Thank you, I will do so. What is ++++? Her first test in 2010 had Band 41 reactive, the most recent test (not Stonybrook)said "present". Is this different?

 

 

We used IgeneX, and they report which bands are present, along with the strength of the positive result (i.e. the darkness/thickness of the band that is present). They use a system of + thru ++++ to report the strenth of the positive result. They also use IND, which drives me crazy. IND means they see the hint of a band, but not enough to call it a positive for sure. So ++++ would be a VERY obvious, very strong positive. And IND, since they see something there, would be like a half-positive (?).

 

Here's a link I found helpful in explaining what the "bands" are:

http://www.lymenet.de/labtests/brenner.htm#band