Re: Getting killer cell test

[Guest guest]

Lea wrote:

>

> Also, how do we get tested?

> thank you

> best,

> lea

> <<

About the following "

> Also, I believe I mentioned on here that my doctor may be identifying

a

> marker for late Lyme. I tested having a missing subset of killer

cell,

> something my doctor, who's an immunologist, has never seeen before.

He's

> gone on to test many others in the area w/ late lyme - SAME WEIRD

RESULT.

> He'll be trying to get funding to research this. It may have

important

> implications for diagnosis and treatment. The test he runs is a

lymphocyte

> phenotype (or subset) test that determines levels of subsets of T

cells and

> whether or not they're activated. It's one way to paint an immune

profile.

> The specific subset that we're missing is CD8 - CD57.

>

> You might want to have this test run. I'm sure my doctor would

appreciate

> collecting as much data on this as possible.

The test is a blood test called lymphocyte phenotyping or lymphocyte

subset. Some doctors do this to get an immunological profile but

(according to my doctor) they don't get a detailed report on subsets of

killer cells, they just get summaries - that's not enough. If you're

doctor doesn't know what this means, get back to me and I'll ask. I'm

not sure how weird a test this is for non-immunologists.

Be well,

beth

*****************************************************

Iinfected in 1984, Western Sierras, California

undiagnosed rash

Dormant disease w/ low grade symptoms for 14 yrs.

Disease became active in late '98

Primarily neuro symptoms

ELISA - neg. Western Blot - equivocal

4 out 5 Bb specific bands positive or equivocal

suggestive of OLD infection

Abx so far: 6 wks Doxy, 4 wks IV Rocephin, Rocephin ongoing

Work with LLMD in San Francisco, R. Stricker