Borreliosis test AK-18Save
Safe and reliable diagnose Borreliosis
Chronic infections such as borreliosis increase the stress on the body. This is often manifested by persistent exhaustion, burnout symptoms or even joint pain. With the AK-18Save Borreliosis Test, you can safely diagnose Borreliosis and then choose the right therapy:
- The most sensitive test combination on the market: with two test methods and 18 tested parameters, we achieve high sensitivity and specificity.
- Safe result: Our hit rate is comparatively high at 90%, thus reducing false-negative results.
- Ease of use: Patients outside Berlin can order blood collection kits.
Why is a safe diagnosis of chronic infections important?
An infection is a general stress on the body. A stressor that creates stress for the body. In acute, then healing infections the stress is correspondingly declining rapidly. However, a chronic stress develops during a chronic infection.
A chronic infection such as Lyme borreliosis is an "energy eater" and consumes 1/3 of the biochemical energy that humans produce. This constant "stress" of the body leads to the exhaustion of the neurotransmitters (messengers) and can lead to the development of a burnout. Further consequences are, for example, pain in the area of the joints. Another manifestation is found in the nervous system, the so-called neuroborreliosis.
Unspecific symptoms usually result from a chronic infection. Thes are often not recognized as the result of one or more diseases and is often treated as psychosomatic. Lyme borreliosis is the consequence of ticks.
How do you achieve such a high hit rate?
By analyzing with two measurement techniques, we are able to determine significantly more features of the antigen structure of the Borrelia than is possible with standard tests. With both tests we determine the antibodies. We determine the surface characteristics (IFT) of the antigens and we also separate them according to mass and charge (IB). Thus, we get a very sensitive statement about a borrelia infection of the patient.
Within the framework of these two antibody tests we are testing two Borreliosis antibodies IgG and IgM. These are the body's own proteins which form a defensive reaction. They are of different sizes and occur at different times:
- IgM is formed as the first reaction to an infection and disappears after some time. IgM is therefore usually an indication of an acute thrust of a chronic infection.
- IgG occurs subsequently and remains longer, up to many years, and marks the transition to the healing or to the chronic phase.
Depending on the findings, conclusions can be drawn about the duration and actuality of the borrelia infection.
Why is chronic borreliosis so difficult to diagnose?
The reliable diagnosis of chronic borreliosis is difficult to determine for various reasons. On the one hand, the symptoms of chronic borreliosis are very different, diverse and unspecific.
After the bite of ticks only every second develops a flush. At the same time, you are often associated with other diseases such as rheumatism or depression (neuroborreliosis). Borrelia also has a camouflage mechanism and can change their surface structure. In addition, they can manifest themselves at the most diverse and different points of the body. Because of the different pathogenic Borrelia species, it is particularly difficult to make a targeted diagnosis.
The standard tests have a much lower hit rate than the AK-18Save Borreliosis Test, are inaccurate and can be negative, even if the patients are infected.
Together with the anamnesis and the symptoms, this results in a clear diagnosis for a subsequent targeted treatment. The Dedimed AK-18Save Borreliosis Test is thus more accurate and reliable than other tests currently available on the market.
What are the disadvantages of standard borreliosis tests?
The standardized tests often lead to "false negative" results, which is absolutely fatal for the person concerned and a wrong diagnosis is made. In the AK-18Save Borreliosis test, we prevent a misdiagnosis with a 90 % certainty and the patient is equally certain there is an infection.
Dedimed is often the eighth or ninth starting point for the person concerned because the previous examinations did not bring any results with different doctors.
Borrelia is very variable in its antigen structure: some features are found in several species of Borrelia, some in only a few. In many standardized screening tests, rare characteristics are not recognized. The result: false-negative finding. With our borreliosis test we detect both the frequent and the rare characteristics.
What role do co-infections play in the diagnosis of borreliosis?
Borreliosis alone can cause mild to severe symptoms. But what many do not know is that ticks can transmit different co-infections together with the Borrelia. These include pathogens such as Bartonella, Babesia, Rickettsia or Chlamydia, which in turn can cause various symptoms. Co-infections are also predominantly diagnosed by our two immunoblot (IB) and immunofluorescence (IFT) test methods.
TIP: Blood Collection Kit Borrelia Test: Patients who do not live in Berlin receive blood collection kits. With this blood sampling material, the patients then go to their (mostly a family doctor) and send the tube with the blood and the request form to our borreliosis practice. The findings are then mostly discussed with our physician Dr. Waldherr by phone and sent to the patient by mail.
What is a Borreliosis Therapy?
A chronic infection, such as chronic borreliosis, but also the associated co-infections, present a great challenge both diagnostically and therapeutically.
Acute and fresh bacterial infections can usually be treated very well by means of a consequent antibiotic therapy for several weeks..
On the other hand, chronic infections with regard to the therapy are more differentiated and represent a much greater challenge. During a chronic active borreliosis, longer-term antibiotics (minimum 3 months) is usually required. This can be done either by oral injection or by infusion.
Another very effective therapy to fight the Borrelia is the extreme whole-body hyperthermia. Borrelia are thermolabile and die at a temperature of 41.6 degrees. Here the patients are brought effectively to temperature. Extreme hyperthermia is only performed under strict medical supervision by monitoring vital signs.
Do you have any questions about our borreliosis test?
A short phone call with our laboratory physician, Dr. med. Anton Waldherr Tel. + 49 (0) 033203 is recommended.