BTBowhunter

I have learned a bit about the tests lately after a bit of a scare.

The first, cheapest test is called the ELISA test. It can be somewhat unreliable and can miss the disease.

The second test is called the Western Blot test and is more conclusive.

If, by chance you have had the Lymerix vaccine, youmay still contract the disease. The ELISA test will always be positive after the vacccine. The Western Blot test must be conducted differently for those who have had the vaccine or a false positivecan result. Many doctors arent that well versed on this either as I found out.

If you have symptoms and the first test is negative, insist on the second test. Also, the bullseye rash that everyone knows is easily spotted is only present in about 60% of cases..

The third,and most invasive test is the one where they actually draw fluid from an arhritic joint to look for thespirochete germ because it is said to hide in jointsmaking it fairly resistant to antibiotics.

If it's allowed to go long enough, some symptoms can last years even after the infection hasbeen cured.

bluebird2

Thanks for that bit of information. A few days ago I talked to a neighbor who has had serious health problems and the doctors can't diagnose the cause. He has had both positive and negative test for Lyme but the docs won't put him on antibiotics until they get a definite positive.. After our talk I was wondering if there was a test for the actual spirochetes and you provided the answer.

Is that the test they used to confirm you had Lyme?

BTBowhunter

Actually, I got some good news last week. I'm not 100% on the terminolgy but to my understanding, the second Western Blot done in a specifically different way for a lyme vaccinated person seems to have ruled out a current viable case. Now I just have to wait and watch. Still waiting for a third opinion to be sure butso far so good. If I get any hesitation from the infectuous disease specialist, I'll have the joint fluid tested.

Tell your friend not to not simply accept it the first or even second time that the docs tell him it's not lyme. Make sure he at least gets the western blot test. Some insurances balk at the cost but tell him to be persistent.

BTBowhunter

I have also learned that there has been a cottage industry of quacks out there with all kind of "new" treatments as well.

There are too many docs out there with too little knowledge of lyme and also a few unscrupulous quacks.Tell him to choose his docs carefully.

It seems the farther east you go in the state, the more lyme literate the docs seem to be.