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I Am 41-year-old Female. I’m Relatively Healthy Besides The Fact
Question: I am 41-year-old female. I’m relatively healthy besides the fact that I have been diagnosed with severe anemia in the last year. I have had iron infusions and have been normal in the past few months however.
I have had joint and muscle pain and stiffness in my hips and neck and back. Which is now progressed to my feet hands and wrists. My doctor sent me for bloodwork. It came back as abnormal for Lyme’s test IgG 41. Is it not considered a positive Lymes test because I only have one band that is positive? Where should I go from here?
I have had joint and muscle pain and stiffness in my hips and neck and back. Which is now progressed to my feet hands and wrists. My doctor sent me for bloodwork. It came back as abnormal for Lyme’s test IgG 41. Is it not considered a positive Lymes test because I only have one band that is positive? Where should I go from here?
I can’t sleep well due to pain and I have brain fog
Brief Answer:
One IgG band is not sufficient for Lyme diagnosis- EIA and IgM bands are recommended as well to have a better understanding
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
Lyme serology consists of 2-tiered serology. The first XXXXXXX is EIA (enzyme immunoassay). If this test comes out negative, no further tests are done. If it is positive or unequivocal then the second XXXXXXX is done, IgG and IgM. Out of a total of 10 IgG bands and 3 IgM bands, there should be 5 or more IgG positive bands or 2 or more IgM bands to be positive.
I did not notice the EIA result or IgM bands checked in your test report. Only one IgG band is not sufficient (should be at least 5 IgG bands positive), but if you have a positive (or equivocal) EIA test and 2 IgM bands positive, the diagnosis of Lyme is possible.
To conclude:
- I do not see the full serology for Lyme disease, I kindly ask you to upload the rest of the reports in case you have some more papers available.
- If you had only one positive IgG band, this does not make a diagnosis.
- If you have a positive or unclear EIA and 2 IgM bands positive then Lyme disease is likely.
- You may need to further discuss this information with your doctor as well.
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
One IgG band is not sufficient for Lyme diagnosis- EIA and IgM bands are recommended as well to have a better understanding
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service,
I carefully read your query and understand your concern.
Lyme serology consists of 2-tiered serology. The first XXXXXXX is EIA (enzyme immunoassay). If this test comes out negative, no further tests are done. If it is positive or unequivocal then the second XXXXXXX is done, IgG and IgM. Out of a total of 10 IgG bands and 3 IgM bands, there should be 5 or more IgG positive bands or 2 or more IgM bands to be positive.
I did not notice the EIA result or IgM bands checked in your test report. Only one IgG band is not sufficient (should be at least 5 IgG bands positive), but if you have a positive (or equivocal) EIA test and 2 IgM bands positive, the diagnosis of Lyme is possible.
To conclude:
- I do not see the full serology for Lyme disease, I kindly ask you to upload the rest of the reports in case you have some more papers available.
- If you had only one positive IgG band, this does not make a diagnosis.
- If you have a positive or unclear EIA and 2 IgM bands positive then Lyme disease is likely.
- You may need to further discuss this information with your doctor as well.
I hope this answers your query. I remain at your disposal in case further medical assistance is needed.
Kind regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj
General and Family Physician
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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