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is a spinal tap a reliable test for Lyme?

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Aerose91

Senior Member
Messages
1,401
Im going to be getting an IgeniX test done, mostly hecause my doctor is interested in Bartonella and Biorella. However, he may want to do lyme as well just to be safe. I did have the regular blood test done which i know is worthless but i also had a test for lyme in my spinal tap which also came back negative. Is an LP result accurate? Or should i still spring for the lyme part, too. Im just trying to save money where i can since its very tight.
 
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Ema

Senior Member
Messages
4,729
Location
Midwest USA
From http://www.aldf.com/faq.shtml:

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is a very sensitive assay that detects the DNA of B. burgdorferi. However, certain limitations prevent the PCR from being widely used. First, B. burgdorferi bacteria do not persist in easily obtainable fluids such as blood, synovial (joint) fluid or spinal fluid, but typically bind to joint and nerve tissues. A PCR done on spinal fluid may be positive in early neurologic disease (e.g., Lyme meningitis) but is usually negative in a patient with long-term central nervous system damage.
Click to expand...

If it were me, I would go ahead and test for Lyme if your doctor thinks that test is worthwhile as well.
 
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Aerose91

Senior Member
Messages
1,401
Hmmm, thats an interesting article. I had it done about 5 months after onset, that would still be early on right?

May still be a good idea if i can scrounge up the $$ tho
 
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Ema

Senior Member
Messages
4,729
Location
Midwest USA
Aerose91 said:
Hmmm, thats an interesting article. I had it done about 5 months after onset, that would still be early on right?

May still be a good idea if i can scrounge up the $$ tho
Click to expand...
It's impossible to know. It depends how fast the infection disseminated in your body.

In some people that can take a matter of months; in others, it can take years.
 
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Aerose91

Senior Member
Messages
1,401
Ema,

Thanks for those links, im going to try them out. It would be great to get some as i would feel more confident covering all bases
 
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