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Validity of the IFA test - igenex

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Lyme Disease
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evianangel
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2016
Posts : 418
Posted 4/19/2016 12:16 PM (GMT -8)
Just wondering about this IFA test. Mine was 80...positive. So why would my igm igg test be negative? Does anyone understand the IFA test? Is it that powerful of a screening test for lyme?

Thanks
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Traveler
Elite Member
Joined : May 2007
Posts : 36542
Posted 4/19/2016 3:02 PM (GMT -8)
No, it's not powerful at all. It's used as a screening to see who will be 'allowed' to get tested by the Western Blot by many labs - but not Igenex. Honestly, I'm a little confused as to why they even use it.

IFA stands for Indirect fluorescent antibody. ". Tests for Lyme disease using IFA have received mixed reviews and some authors believe that the interpretations of IFA assays are overly subjective and that the tests are either functionally insensitive for Lyme-specific antibodies or display considerable cross-reactions with antibodies to other spirochetal organisms."
www.igenex.com/labtest.htm

The ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay)- "most are inadequate as a screening test because they were not designed by the manufacturers to be sensitive at the 95% level, which is required for screening."

"The goal for a new generation of ELISAs should be sensitivity for the more unique and specific B. burgdorferi antigens that are visualized in the Western blot."
http://www.igenex.com/labtest.htm

The fact that you got a positive test using it says a lot!
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Beeperoni
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2016
Posts : 210
Posted 4/19/2016 3:07 PM (GMT -8)
evianangel,

I believe the IFA is similar to the ELISA test. It is an indirect immunoflresence assay (meaning it looks for antibodies)...sometimes, this can be positive or equivalent due to other illnesses that you make antibodies to (such as EBV, CMV, Tuberculosis, etc.)
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evianangel
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2016
Posts : 418
Posted 4/19/2016 3:30 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks Traveler and beeperoni. I understand a bit more now about it. I don't think I have any of those other diseases. I think it is weird K would be position the IFA and not the rest of of Western blot. So confusing.
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Razzle
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 4415
Posted 4/19/2016 6:37 PM (GMT -8)
If your western blot was done by a lab other than IGeneX, then they may not test on or report all the bands, leading to a false negative result.
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Traveler
Elite Member
Joined : May 2007
Posts : 36542
Posted 4/20/2016 5:58 AM (GMT -8)
Agreed, Razzle - but also timing is everything! If the blood was drawn at two separate times, the bacteria may have been in the blood to replicate just then, yet not for the other blood draw.

There are a lot of variables with testing, which is why we need new, more reliable testing.
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Girlie
Forum Moderator
Joined : May 2014
Posts : 47435
Posted 4/20/2016 8:56 AM (GMT -8)
Evian's test is from Igenex.
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