Labcorp Celiac Blood Test Results How to Read
This is the second post in my Epstein-Barr (EBV) series. You'll encounter the progression of my EBV tests and larn what to inquire for if you want to become similar tests.
Why Epstein-Barr Testing It'due south And then Confusing
Before you read this post, I shared my story most how after years of feeling tired and treating my low thyroid status, I discovered that my Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) antibodies were showing a contempo infection—even though it had been over fifteen years since having mono as a teen—if you want to read more than of my backstory.
Today I want to share more about the testing I've had over the final ii years—plus, why it's so confusing and frustrating for most people when they ask to be tested for reactivated Epstein-Barr.
First, the medical community is just waking upwardly to the idea that nosotros don't just get mono once , and that the virus can crusade issues for decades.
One-time-schoolhouse Western Medical Doctors used to think that:
- About 95% of the population will contract the Epstein-Barr virus at some point (however true),
- In some people information technology stays fallow forever (however truthful), and
- Some people will get mono from it—just once the astute mono phase is over, there is even so a belief that the virus will stay dormant (asleep) forever (this is not necessarily true)
In some cases, it volition stay dormant forever afterward the acute mono stage. But in some people, similar me and possibly you, the virus tin cause issues throughout life. Again, y'all tin read more about my low thyroid issues and EBV reactivation discovery on the outset postal service in this series. But today I want to focus on testing.
Second, while some doctors and practitioners have long known that EBV tin can cause autoimmune symptoms or lead to weather condition like Chronic Fatigue or Fibromyalgia, most take overlooked this idea.
Since new information is still emerging well-nigh the virus and the long-term issues it tin can crusade, there isn't really a standardized test for it. And other practitioners hypothesize that there are actually multiple types of EBV, which makes it even more difficult to test for.
I was intrigued enough to ask for an EBV test from my naturopath but didn't know what to specifically ask for then just got the test that she chose from her list of options. It was still a adept test, as it indicated a "recent principal infection," which was plenty to sympathise that my immune organization was still trying to fight the virus fifty-fifty though my acute mono phase had ended over 15 years earlier.
The health community uses the words "Reactivated Epstein-Barr" for this phenomenon, but I wonder if it ever really "deactivated" in the showtime place. I call back a improve word for it might be chronic, notwithstanding, Chronic Active EBV is a specific diagnosis characterized by persistent infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms. There is a huge population that is living somewhere in between—the persistent infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms are gone, but you never fully recover.
Back to the testing.
I'm sharing these tests with you lot to show you why detecting long-term EBV issues is then disruptive.
Nonetheless, I feel positive that I at least know why I take periods of time when I feel and then tired, because now I tin do something nigh it. Information technology's besides comforting to know what could accept caused this thyroid issue. However, the testing is still confusing, and I'm nonetheless a lilliputian confused about it.
Likewise, please annotation that I'm sharing these tests with yous just as a starting indicate. I'thousand not a doctor and these are just for reference.
My 1st Reactivated EBV Exam
September 2016: Testing for Positive/Negative IGG and IGM antibodies.
The paradigm above is my first recent EBV test in September 2016 (15 years later on mono), indicating a positive result. My naturopath in Bozeman ordered this exam, and to her surprise, it was positive! (Read more about that in my first post in this serial.) On this exam from Mayo, presence of VCA/IgM antibodies indicates recent chief infection. This was the first indicator that my torso was still fighting the virus and was the point at which nosotros started natural antivirals and treatments. Tests that prove positive or negative results without values tin be frustrating every bit it's hard to gauge the severity of the situation, only at to the lowest degree information technology's a start.
My 2nd Reactivated EBV Test
January 2017: Follow-up 4 months after the offset test.
This test above was not that helpful and was ordered by mistake when my doctor thought she was ordering the same every bit the commencement i. We had tweaked my thyroid replacement dose, then I had to be tested a few months after. I asked her to test the EVB over again to see if anything had inverse. When the exam came back, I realized information technology was a totally different exam than the beginning.
She mentioned that she must accept but checked a dissever box, but this one was a good 1, too. I don't blame her or have whatsoever negative feelings near information technology, simply looking dorsum on it I should accept asked for the other examination again, because comparing two different tests isn't very helpful.
And subsequently researching this test more than, I realized that it didn't tell us the entire motion-picture show—it says "None Detected" because it was testing something completely dissimilar. She told me that the natural antivirals must be working and to just continue doing what I was doing. I actually did feel a little better, but equally yous'll come across over the next year in the following tests, the antibodies that indicate a contempo infection and that my body was still fighting the virus, were in fact, still there.
My 3rd Reactivated EBV Exam
May 2017: V months after the previous confusing test.
As you tin see here, this exam indicated the aforementioned every bit the offset. When I got this one, my biggest question was, "Would this have shown the same thing in January?" This is why it's so important to follow upwardly and get the same test so you can do an accurate comparison.
My Well-nigh Recent Reactivated EBV Test
May 2018: This i actually has number values, not merely simply positive/negative results.
My previous tests were with my doctor in Montana. I recently moved to Seattle and started seeing a new naturopath. During my intake, she mentioned that she wanted to practice an EBV test. Equally yous tin see on this test above, information technology only tested IgG, not IgM antibodies like tests one and three did. That confused me considering loftier VCA/IgM antibodies signal a recent primary infection. She said she now uses this examination considering it actually gives a value of the IgG antibodies, and over a certain number, it will bespeak if your immune system is withal trying to fight the virus. You can see from the issue and reference range above that anything over x.99 indicates a positive result, and mine was over 41.
I program to go on up with the natural antivirals I have and go along to explore natural and culling treatment options. Y'all tin can read more about my treatment protocol in this post.
Are Epstein-Barr Antibody Tests Even Helpful?
Here'south the bottom line: EBV testing is still confusing for medical professionals, which makes it fifty-fifty more confusing for patients.
Remember that labs are ever a snapshot in time, and it's possible that different values can be detected at different times.
Even though EBV testing can be confusing, what's of import is to call up that regardless of what the results are, you can still take steps to feel better.
If you've had fifty-fifty i exam that comes back positive, it volition most probable be positive for a long time—possibly even for life. Since we still don't know a lot about the virus, what's most important is that you lot focus on feeling good and healing if y'all feel off, instead of focusing on the numbers on a piece of paper.
These tests are useful in the sense that yous may suspect EBV, and seeing the effect on paper might spur action to healing, but likewise remember that the virus can live so deep in your organs that the test might show negative, fifty-fifty when EBV is ultimately the issue.
Yous tin start your healing protocol on your ain even if y'all don't have the examination results even so.
How to Ask for a Reactivated Epstein-Barr Exam
Find a naturopath, functional medicine specialist, or healthcare practitioner who is open to exploring the possibility of Epstein-Barr.
Do some research in your local area, and always ask the front desk when you call to brand your engagement if the practitioner is open to testing for Epstein-Barr. I've found that naturopaths are always very open to this. The front desk-bound tin't give you a consult over the telephone, but they can at least provide information as to whether the doctor is open to testing for that sort of affair. You may accept to call a few places since unfortunately some mainstream/"old-school" medical practices are not up to speed on this notwithstanding.
If I were starting over again with what I know now, I would specifically ask for the positive/negative VCA/IgM antibodies test (tests one and iii above) and the EBV Early on Antigen D (IgG) test (test four in a higher place), because both provided good information. If I recall, that first test was around $45 (on top of the cost of the visit), and I paid greenbacks at the naturopath, so it wasn't too out of attain.
Only your medical professional tin can guide you on this and will know what tests are available, so piece of work with them to discover the best testing choice for you. I will say that I had to specifically ask for this and allow her know that I was ok paying the $45 for her to order it. That's not a toll quote by the way, every bit I'm certain the charges vary by lab and area.
Is There a Ameliorate Test?
New technology is always becoming available, and I desire to remind everyone that I'm a patient, not a medico, so you lot'll have to work with your medical professional on what tests are available and best for you. My doctors in Montana and Seattle are both amazing, but they did not have whatever further tests to conduct.
My doctor at Sanoviv specializes in functional medicine and wants to exercise a test called ELISpot the next fourth dimension I visit her to sympathise if I have whatsoever co-infections and to understand the EBV more. ELISpot claret test is sent to Europe for assay and information technology's expensive; nosotros would do it for inquiry purposes because we're both fascinated by it and I take the funds to do information technology. Since health is my profession, I'k willing to spend on the research, but I desire you lot to know that you do not have to have expensive tests to starting time your healing. In fact, the results of that test will most probable not change my protocol, it will merely scratch our crawling to learn more about the virus.
How to Accept Action:
i. Read the other posts in this series for more than information:
Post #1: Is Information technology Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation?
Post #iii: My Epstein-Barr Handling & Natural Healing Protocol
Post #4: Update: Healing from Reactivated Epstein-Barr
2. If you have an autoimmune condition or depression thyroid and doubtable reactivated Epstein-Barr, discover a naturopath or doctor who specializes in functional medicine and enquire for an EBV examination. (Come across notes higher up about how to ask.)
3. Share your story with us in the comments beneath to help other people who are dealing with this. Accept you had any testing, or do you plan to? What were your results?
4. Subscribe to my newsletter beneath this post get your first free ebook and make sure you never miss an EBV update.
5. Stay positive!
It actually doesn't affair that the testing can exist confusing. You lot tin still accept charge of your own wellness. If y'all feel rundown or low in energy, stay hopeful. Living a good for you lifestyle and incorporating natural antivirals into your routine tin help manage (and potentially even get rid of) the virus. I'll continue to write more posts equally I acquire more (trust me, I'thou typing equally fast as I can). 😉
Source: https://www.elizabethrider.com/reactivated-epstein-barr-testing/
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