Re: antibiotic challenge to force IgM? and IgeneX LDA Test

March 7, 2006

Some doctors always do the antibiotic challenge as it can draw the spirochetes

out of the cells into the blood. Many do a course of abx, and then a week off

and then test. I am not sure if my daughter has had the test you are speaking

of but I know many who have. On the IgG it could be an old infection or one

that has been lying dormant and is now flaring again. Anyone, isn't that right?

I think the fact that your doctor is concerned about what to do for future

insurance questions shows that they are truly in the loop about how to deal with

these frustrating issues. Dr. J has done the same thing with my daughter

ordering tests just in case we need the documentation to prove a need for

treatment.

(BTW-Dr. J never takes my daughter off the abx when he does repeat WB. We asked

him and he said in his experience it did not make that big a difference. I have

always wondered though if hers would be MORE positive if we did this...)

[ ] antibiotic challenge to force IgM? and IgeneX LDA

Test

Hi,

My daughter's new doctor said that the 10 Quest positive IgG bands

doesn't indicated " active " lyme and has said the next step is to do an

antibiotic challenge with biaxin and amox for five days, and do the

IgeneX Lyme Dot Blot Assay (a urine) test. If that is positive, it

would be followed by a reverse western blot on the antigens found in

the urine. Does anyone have experience with this IgeneX test?

I wondered if anyone else did this or if the IgG reactivity was

sufficient for an " active " lyme diagnosis in your child's case? My

daughter isn't highly symptomatic, but, my fear is that she has had

this since birth (she's six) and it is hiding in her...she has some

cognitive impairment, but no major physical symptoms NOW (but has in

the past - we didn't know it was lyme then.) He said he would treat her

now, but,he thought we should get some sort of documentation of IgM

response so future insurance, etc. wouldn't question it.

Anyone? Thanks.

For up to date information about Lyme disease and the known co-infections

delivered to your email address see:

Robynns_Lyme_List/

March 8, 2006

I have had the LUA (Lyme Urine Antigen) thru Igenex many many times...and so has

my son.

Basically its collections of morning urines ( 3-5 depending upon Dr) and at a

certain point after starting abx (again this varies according to theory). the

urine is then poured into a test tube and frozen, packed then fed-exed directly

to California...the kit is self explanatory and fed-ex has always been

wonderful!!! door to door!!!

The idea is that IF the meds are promoting the body to shed pieces of bacteria,

theyll be in the urine. (antigen = pcs of organism, antibody is the protein the

body makes in response to having been exposed to an antigen). and if the

person's immune system is for whatever reason not recognizing the bacteria ( and

therefore giving a neg blot or ELISA)...then maybe they can look for actual

bacterial matter.

BUT as with all tests, its again a case of the 'ol fishing hole. ( my own

personal theory that even if the lake has just been well -stocked with fish,

there's still no guarantee of catching a fish...)i.e. you can very well have

spirochetes ( or other bacteria) but if that 'catch' ( blood or urine or spinal

fluid) just happens to not catch any,,,well you get the drift.

Its certainly worth the test ( tho very expensive) as its non-invasive...and it

may just correllate with a herx ( which will also be a positive confirmation of

infection), but a 'neg' wont prove absence of disease; yet an insurance company

may try to use that ( and any other 'neg') to deny treatment!!

good luck

Finette