Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome back to Integrative lyme Solutions with Dr. Karl Feldt. I am so excited about the show that we have ahead of us. We have some phenomenal information that could save lives. You're gonna need to tune in to what's going on today. The information is jam packed, so don't step away.
Hello. Thank you so much for joining Integrative lyme Solutions with Dr. Karlfeld. I am your host, Dr. Michael Karl Fe belt. I've been in clinical practice since 1987. I've seen pretty much everything under the sun, worked with so many different Lyme patients, and I know what a devastating disease this is. That's why I'm doing this podcast to make sure that you are armed with the information that you need in order to be able to be successful in your struggle with Lyme. We'll be featuring authors, doctors, professors, and also people like yourself that have gone through the journey that you're going through, that have been where you've been and is now on the other side. And they get to tell their victorious story as to how they battle Lyme so that you can implement that in your life as well. Be sure to like us and write a review on whichever platform that you're listening on. What that does is it enables other people to see us more so that they have access to this information as well. So I'm so excited that you're tuning in and get ready for this upcoming show. It is going to be amazing. Hello, my friends, and welcome back to another episode of Integrative lyme Solutions with Dr. Karlfeldt. I'm your host, Dr. Michael Karlfeldt, and I'm really glad you're here today. Whether you're tuning in while resting, driving to an appointment, or just trying to get through another day with Lyme, this space is for you. You are absolutely not alone.
Now, today's episode might not sound all that glamorous, but trust me, it's a big one. We're diving into the wild world of Lyme disease lab testing. The good, the bad, and, yes, the downright misunderstood. I promise to keep it simple, grounded, and, as always, full of heart. If you've ever stared at a lab result wondering, how can I feel this sick and still test negative, then this episode is made for you. We're going to unpack why Lyme testing is so tricky, what these tests are actually measuring, and how some of the most respected voices in the Lyme and chronic illness world, like Dr. Bruce Patterson, Dr. Joseph Barrascano, Dr. Armin Schwarzbach of Armand Labs and Dr. Steve Harris of Igenics are helping us completely rethink how we approach testing and diagnosis. I just got back from the TFIM 2025 conference where these brilliant minds shared groundbreaking insights. So today I'm bringing those highlights straight to you. Think of it as your front row seat to the future of lime testing, where without the jet lag or Hotel breakfast, Mr. Meat. Yeah, well my breakfast was really good, but jet lag and flying is never fun, so let's dive in. So let's start with a question I hear all the time from patients. Why is it so hard to test for Lyme? Should there be a yes or no answer? Yeah, you think it'd be that easy. But unfortunately Lyme disease doesn't really play by normal rules. And neither does do the tests used to detect it. So the traditional test most doctors rely on, we have the Lysa and Western blot were never designed for chronic or late stage Lyme. They're based on very narrow window of time, usually when the immune system is mounting an early antibody response. But what if your immune system is exhausted or confused or dealing with co infections? Suddenly those tests don't look so reliable. So one of the most eye opening things Dr. Joseph Barscano said was this.
If you're using antibody testing in someone with immune dysregulation, which is almost every chronic Lyme patient, you are going to miss it. And he's absolutely right.
Lyme suppresses immune system, it hides, it shifts, forms. Sometimes it's in the blood, sometimes it's deep in tissue. It's like the ninja of bacterial infections. And let's be honest, when you're navigating brain fog, crushing fatigue and pain that moves around like it's playing musical chairs, the last thing you need is a lab test that gaslights you. But that's exactly what happens. To make things worse, the CDC testing guidelines still require this outdated two tier system. First an elisa, then a western blot. And only certain bands count. But here's the kicker. Some of the most specific and telling Lyme bands aren't even included in those guidelines. So what happens?
Patients bounce from doctor to doctor being told their tests are normal, while inside they're thinking, am I crazy? Is this all in my head? No, you're not crazy. You're just dealing with an infection that's smarter than the system designed to detect it. And that's where we need to shift our mindset. As Dr. Bruce Patterson emphasized in his talk, we have to stop relying solely on these old school tests.
And start looking at how the immune system is reacting to persistent infections. Because Lyme isn't just about detecting the bug anymore. It's about understanding how the bug is impacting your biology long term. Dr. Patterson introduced some truly fascinating new ways of testing ones that go beyond antibodies. He's looking to cytokines, immune signaling, and chronic inflammation patterns that can persist even when traditional tests show nothing. More. On that in a few minutes, I promise. His works really deserves a little extra spotlight. But for now, I want you to remember this. If you've been dismissed because your tests are negative, that doesn't mean you're not sick. It means the system isn't built to see you. And that, my friend, is exactly what we're working to change together. Alright, now that we've talked about why Lyme testing is so frustrating, let's dig into the tests themselves. How they work, where they fall short, and why they often miss the mark entirely.
Let's start with elisa. That's the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Sounds high tech, but think of it as a general scan to see if your body has produced antibodies against Borrelia, the bacteria behind Lyme. In theory, if your immune system spotted the invader and mounted a defense, ELISA will pick that up. But here's a problem, and it's a big one. It only works well if you're in the early stages of infection and your immune system responds by the book. But many of you listening know. Now you know they that's not how Lyme chronic Lyme works. Your immune system may be exhausted, may be so confused, or as I mentioned previously, may be so overwhelmed by confections that it's not reacting in the usual way. And that means false negatives are extremely common. And that leads us to the western blot, the second tier of the CDC's testing protocol. This one is supposed to confirm that the ELISA found, if it found anything.
The Western blot looks for specific proteins or bands that indicate your immune system has been exposed to Borrelia. Now, on the surface, that sounds promising, right? More specific, more detailed. But here's a rub. Only certain bands are officially counted under the CDC guidelines. And ironically, some of the most lyme specific bands, like 31 and 34, were actually removed from the diagnostic criteria. Why do you think? Because they were used in early Lyme vaccine research. And to avoid confusion between vaccinated individuals and infected individuals. Those bans were taken off the list. Not because they weren't useful, not because they weren't accurate, but because they were Too accurate. Let me say that again for effect. The bands most specific to Lyme were removed from the test designed to detect Lyme. Yeah, that's mind blowing. Also, when most commercial labs run a Western blot, they're actually just testing for one strain of Borrelia. Specifically Borrelia burgdorferi senso stricto. Also known as strain B31. This strain was originally isolated from a tick in Shelter Island, New York. It's never even been confirmed to infect humans. Yet it became the type strain that all conventional testing is built around. But here's the truth. B31 is just one member of a much larger Borrelia family. There's Borrelia angarini, Borrelia avzeli, Borrelia mayoni, Borrelia spillmani. And these are just a few of all the different strains. These are collectively referred to as Borrelia burgdorferi, sensu latu. A whole group of strains that can all cause Lyme disease. And if your infection is caused by one of these other strains and your test is only looking for B31, well, guess what? You're going to test negative, even though you're clearly symptomatic and suffering. But it even gets more frustrating and interesting.
There's also an entirely separate group of Borrelia bacteria known as tick borne relapsing fever Borrelia tbrf. These include species like Borrelia hermsi, Borrelia miamotoi, Borrelia turicae, and others. And they're not rare, as many people have been led to believe. They're actually found all over the US and all over the world.
Now, conventional labs might test for one of these relapsing fever strains, usually Borrelia hermsi, if they test for them at all. But that's like checking for one type of mushroom in a whole forest and saying that you've done a full inspection and you can't find any mushrooms. Most labs don't even offer testing for the full TBRF panel. You have to go to special labs to get it done properly. That's where labs like Igenx become so valuable. Igenics was actually one of the first pioneers to broaden Lyme testing Beyond the outdated B31 model. Their Western blot panels screen for multiple strains of both Lyme Borrelia and relapsing fever Borrelia. They also used expanded band criteria. So bands like 31 and 34 are back in the mix right where they should be. And then we have PCR or polymerase chain Reaction testing. This one sounds like the gold standard because it looks directly for the DNA of the Lyme bacteria. No antibodies, no immune guesswork, just is the bug there or not? In theory it's perfect. In practice, not so much. Here's the issue. Lyme doesn't spend much time in the bloodstream. It's like digging deep.
It goes deep into the tissue, joints, the nervous system. So unless you catch it at just the right moment, like during a flare or Herxheimer reaction, you might even get a false negative. Again. It's like trying to find a criminal with a flashlight in a massive pitch dark house when they've already hidden in the attic. They left the main building and then kind of hide in crawl spaces elsewhere. PCR can be helpful, but it's not the catch all solution it's often made out to be. So what does that leave us with? We've got conventional labs that depend on healthy immune response, which many Lyme patients don't have, use outdated criteria and often completely miss the bacteria because it's hiding in places they're not looking. And here's the painful part, people are falling through the cracks. Patients are being told they're fine, when they're anything but they leave. Doctor after doctor, still sit sick, still searching for answers, still hearing your labs are normal. And this is where we have to expand our view. We can't rely on just one or two tools anymore. We need a toolbox. Other specialty labs like Igenics, known for its more comprehensive western blot and PCR testing with a wider band inclusion and better detection of co infections. We got Armand Labs in Germany, which uses Eli Spot testing to look at T cell responses, bypassing antibody issues entirely. We got Galaxy Diagnostics, highly specific for Bartonella and other stealth infections, using enrichment culture plus pcr. Then we have DNA Connections uses PCR to detect multiple Lyme species and co infections from a single urine sample. Then Vibrant Wellness does an array of antibody and peptide based testing, including their tick borne 2.0 panel. And then Infecto Lab America, similar to Armand Labs with Eli Spot testing and other immune system markers. All these labs are helping us look beyond the narrow view of traditional Lyme test. And then you've got Incel DX14, founded by Dr. Bruce Patterson, who completely actually flips the script. His approach doesn't even try to detect the bug directly. Instead it analyzes how the immune system is still reacting through cytokines and immune signatures that reveal ongoing inflammation and dysfunction long after the bacteria may have gone into hiding.
[00:15:25] Speaker B: Hello dear listeners this is Dr. Michael Karlfeld, your host of integrative Lyme solutions. Today, I'm excited to share an exclusive opportunity from the Karlfeld center, where we blend healing power of nature with groundbreaking therapies to combat Lyme disease and its associated challenges. At the Karlfeld center, we're not just fighting Lyme, we're revolutionizing the way it's treated with cutting edge therapies like photodynamic therapy, full body ozone IV therapy, silver IVs, brain rebalancing, autonomic response testing, laser energetic detoxification, and more. We aim to eradicate Lyme. Our approach is comprehensive, supporting your body's immune system, detoxification processes, hormonal balance and mitochondrial health, ensuring a holistic path to recovery. Understanding Lyme disease and its impact is complex, which is why we're offering a free 15 minute discovery call with one of our Lyme literate naturopathic doctors. This call is your first step towards understanding how we can personalize your healing journey, focusing on you as a whole person, not just your symptoms. Our team, led by myself, Dr. Michael Karfelts, is here to guide you through your recovery with the most advanced diagnostic tools, individualized treatment plans, and supportive therapies designed to restore your health and and vitality. Whether you're facing Lyme disease head on or seeking preventative strategies, we're committed to your wellness. Take the first step towards reclaiming your health. Visit us at thecarlefulthcenter.com or call us at 208-338-8902 to schedule your free discovery call. At the Karlfield center, we believe in healing naturally, effectively and holistically. Thank you for tuning in into integrative lyme solution with Dr. Karlfeld. Remember, true health is not just the absence of disease. It's achieving the abundance of vitality. Let's discover yours together.
[00:17:25] Speaker A: So here's the takeaway. If you were tested using a standard ELISA and western blot through a major lab like Quest or LabCorp, there's a very high chance your test only looked for one strain of Borrelia, which is a strain from a tick that never infected an individual. The strain that infects an individual could look completely different. It might not have looked for any relapsing fever strains, and it probably ignores some of the most useful bands. So when you hear your test was negative, that doesn't mean you're not infected. It just means the test wasn't built to find what you actually got. And that's why it's so important to advocate for yourself, work with practitioners who understand the full picture and most of all, not give up. Lyme and tick borne relapsing fever are global, diverse and complicated. And your testing should reflect that reality, not pretend it doesn't exist. So up next, we'll dive deeper into how these special labs work and explore the cutting edge immune signature testing that's helping patients finally get answers, sometimes after years of being dismissed. So stay with me. This is where it gets exciting. All right, now let's step outside the conventional testing world and into the realm of specialty labs, the ones that actually try to reflect the complexity of Lyme and chronic infections. These labs are kind of like the independent thinkers of the medical world. They're not afraid to ask deeper questions or run more sophisticated tests. And thank goodness for that. So we have Igenics that we already spoke about. They're based in California. Egenic has been leading the charge in more accurate, more comprehensive Lyme and co infection testing. Unlike standard labs, they don't just look for one strain that tests for multiple strains of Lyme, Borrelia, tick borne relapsing fever, Borrelia, Babesia, Bartonella, and more. So what makes them different? They offer recombinant immunoblots.
These aren't kind of your old school western blot. They use genetically engineered antigens from multiple Borrelia species so they can pick up infections that other miss. They also offer a broad coverage assay designed to cast a wide net and pick up multiple species, including those found outside of the US for people who are immunosuppressed, they offer T cell testing, which looks at your cellular immune responses, not just your antibodies. And for those who aren't, who can't easily go to a lab, they even have a at home testing through something called accudart, which is a simplified version of their broader coverage essay. No doctor's order required. You can just order it yourself and get the kit sent to you and do it from the comfort of your own home. They also do PCR testing, fish testing, which uses fluorescent tags to detect active infections in your blood, and culture enhanced PCR where they try to grow the bug first before testing, giving it a better chance of detector of detection. So this is best for folks with chronic symptoms, those who have been sick for years, or people who suspect they may have relapsing fever. Borrelia, which presents a lot like Lyme but is usually missed by standard labs.
Next up is DNA connections. This lab takes a different route. PCR testing of urine. So why urine? Because when these Bugs are stirred up, say after sauna, massage, detox, or even a flare, they can shed fragments of DNA that get flushed out through your urine. So these are best for non invasive testing and people looking for a quick snapshot of Lyme or CO infections in that moment. So the downside is that it's a direct test. So if the bugs are hiding out and not shedding DNA that day, it might come back negative, even if you're still infected. And then Armand Labs out of Germany, Arman is one of the few labs that focuses on T cell response. That is how your cellular immune system is reacting to pathogens. They use a test called Eli Spot, which can detect immune activity even when antibody based tests are negative. So these are best for people with chronic infections, low antibody levels, or those who've been sick so long their immune system are just tapped out. A heads up, this test can also miss things in the middle window. Not early enough for strong T cell reaction, but not late enough for reactivation. So it's best used alongside with other types of tests. And then next up we get Galaxy Diagnostics. Galaxy is the go to if you suspect Bartonella, especially if you have an if you have neurological symptoms, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, or weird psychiatric stuff that hasn't responded to anything else. They use droplet digital pcr, which is one of the most sensitive DNA tests available, plus FISH testing and urine antigen capture called Nanotrap, which can detect active Lyme antigens. So these are best for chronic Bartonella or cases where standard tests have missed the mark. Their PCRs are culture enhanced, which makes a huge difference. Okay, so let's switch gear and talk about a really fascinating type of testing that I've mentioned a few times. Sometimes called fish, which stands for fluorescent in situ hybridization.
Yeah, I know, sounds like something out of a sci fi movie. But here's the deal. FISH is one of the few tests that can actually see the organism in your blood. We're not talking about antibodies or your immune system's memory. We're talking about catching the actual bad guys in the act. So how does it work? They take a drop of your blood and they use a fluorescent tagged probe that binds to the RNA of a specific pathogen like Babesia or Bartonella. Under a specific microscope with a black light, if that bug is there, it literally lights up. Pretty cool, right? So let's break down the pros and cons of FISH testing and why it might or might not be the right choice for you. So the pros of FISH testing, it's a direct Test, you're looking at the actual bug. Not immune reactions, not leftovers. If the test is positive, it means the organism is alive and present in your bloodstream on the day of the draw. That's a big deal, especially when you're trying to prove an active infection.
And it also detects rna, not DNA. RNA breaks down quickly, so a positive fish means you're actively infected, not just carrying fragments from a past exposure. This makes it more definite than some PCR tests that could pick up old DNA it sees through biofilms. Babesia and Bartonella are sneaky. They hide in biofilms, even in your blood. But fish can actually detect organisms inside these protective biofilms, which many other tests miss. It's genus specific. For example, the Bartonella fish from Mygenics can detect any species of Bartonella, not just the one or two that big labs test for. That's a game changer when you consider there are over 40 known Bartonella species and most commercial labs only look for one or two.
Yeah, imagine that you got 40 species and you're only looking for maybe if you're lucky, a 20th of them. So, you know, again, if you're testing negative, yeah, that really doesn't mean anything.
So the cons of fish testing. Yeah, it's not a catch all because it's a direct test. It's only positive if organism is floating around in your blood at the time of the draw. If the bugs are hiding in your tissue or lying down, fish might miss them. Not great for early or mild cases. In very early infections, or if your immune system has already knocked things down, there might not be enough circulating organisms to show up. And treatment suppresses visibility. If you're already on antimicrobials, the bug load might be too low to catch, so timing matters.
Flares, Herxes or pauses in treatment might be the best windows. Another con not widely recognized by conventional doctors. Fish isn't part of the CDC standard Lyme guidelines. So while it's highly respected among Lyme literate practitioners, mainstream medicine doesn't generally accept it as diagnostic evidence yet. But that doesn't make it any less valid if it helps you find answers.
And that's fascinating. I mean, so here you have a test where you actually tag the bug and you say, look, here's a bug.
But mainstream medicine doesn't accept it, even though you're literally seeing the bug. So fascinating. So who is fish good for? If you have chronic symptoms and think you're dealing with Bartonella or Babesia, this is one of the most Sensitive and specific tests out there. It's especially helpful if your immune system is shot and antibody tests keep coming back negative. Or if you've already tried multiple tests and you just want visual confirmation, prove that what you feel is real. The bottom line. Fish can be a powerful piece of the puzzle, especially when used in combination with other tests like immunoblot or T cell assays. But remember, it's just one piece. Lyme and confections are like a massive jigsaw puzzle. And sometimes the missing piece isn't the test. It's having someone who knows how to use the whole picture. So what you actually need. So here's a big takeaway.
You don't need every test, but you do need the right mix of tests based on your stage of illness, are you early or chronic, your immune system's condition, and what kind of pathogens you're actually dealing with. In many cases, that means combining a B cell test like immunoblot or acudart from Igenyx, a T cell test from Armin or Igenics, a direct test like PCR culture enhanced PCR fish, or urine antigen capture. So why combine them? Because Lyme and friends are stealth pathogens. That's why they hide in tissue, shift into different forms, and mess with your immune system. So relying on just one type of test is like trying to see the whole elephant through a straw. And one more thing. Your labs don't tell the whole story. Your symptoms, your history, your exposures, and your intuition matter just as much, maybe even more so if you've been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit. Keep on digging. There are better tools now, and there's hope. All right, this next part, this is where it gets really exciting. Let's talk about what I believe is the future of Lyme diagnostic and how it might finally help so many of you get the answers you've been chasing for years. At the TFIM 2025 conference, Dr. Bruce Patterson, as I mentioned, you might know him as the guy who's been leading the charge in long Covid research. Shared something fascinating. And yes, it also applies to chronic Lyme instead of, as I mentioned, looking at the bug, you know, why not just look at what the bug has done for the immune system? So Patterson's test measures specific inflammatory messengers in your blood. You know, we talked about this test earlier, but what it's measuring are things like IL6, Rantis, CCL5, VEGF, and others. So these markers can reveal whether you're dealing with an active infection, lingering immune dysfunction, or even something like autoimmunity. And here's why that's so important. Some of you listening were diagnosed with Lyme 10 years ago. You did the treatment, but you still feel like you've been hit by a truck every morning. And your doctor says, there's nothing wrong. The infection is gone. But your body is saying, not so fast. I'm still fighting something. That's where Patterson's testing comes in. It can show us if your immune system is stuck in fight mode, even when the infection isn't actually in the blood. And what's really cool is that we can start to match the immune patterns with specific infections and symptom profiles. So let me walk you through a few examples so you can see what I mean. So we got Lyme borrelia, the classic version. This one tends to come on gradually. You'll notice joint pain, fatigue, maybe brain fog or neck stiffness. The key pattern, it cycles every four weeks or so. You'll have a good week or two, then crash. Symptoms flare often line up with hormonal cycles, weather changes, or stress. Immune markers like VEGF might be elevated here, showing vascular inflammation. And you might have low CD57, a sign of immune suppression from chronic Borrelia exposure. Then we have relapsing fever, Borrelia, tbrf. This is often missed. Sometimes the symptoms are sudden fevers, chills, sweating, feeling like you're dying, and then fine again, only to repeat every five to seven days. Oftentimes, it mimics classic Lyme. Almost exactly.
So if you've been told you don't have Lyme, but your symptoms are textbook, this could be the missing link. So immune markers here. Often a spike in IL6 or TNF alpha, showing intense immune flare ups during those cycles. And then we got Bartonella up the stage. Stealthy troublemaker. Symptoms come on slowly, but once they hit, they stay. There's usually no clear cycle, just constant discomfort or flares tied to stress, detox or hormone shift. Here's what you might feel. Electrical shocks or buzzing. Pain in the soles of your feet or along the shins. Severe anxiety, rage, ocd like thoughts or even panic attacks. Skin rashes or strange stretch marked patterns. Even if you're never pregnant, immune patterns often show High Rantis or CCL5 and sometimes VEGF from blood vessel inflammation.
Babesia. If you've ever felt like you were suffocating for no reason, this one might be yours. It tends to come on fast. No slow creep. One day you're fine and the next you're gasping. Walking up A flight of stairs. There's usually no real cycle, but the flares can be fierce, especially around your period during detox or with altitude shifts. Symptoms include things like air hunger, dizziness, like you're still on a boat, day or night sweats, head pressure and migraines. Deep fatigue that makes your bones ache, BCS type inflammation markers like Illinois 6, Illinois 8, and sometimes markers of red blood cell breakdown. So here's what Dr. Patterson is teaching us. Even when the bug isn't detectable, the immune signature can still tell the story.
And more importantly, it can guide treatment, from immune modulators to repurposed drugs like maribiroc or statins. And then, of course, there's Dr. Joseph Barscano, the OG in the Lyme world. He reminded us of something really powerful. There is no perfect test, but there is a perfect approach, and that's layering tests, looking at symptoms, and trusting your clinical gut. Burscano encourages using everything. T cell testing, inflammatory panels, PCR, CD57, fish, even biofilm testing. Because Lyme and CO infections often hide deep and sometimes the labs don't catch it. But you do, because your body is telling you something is wrong. And that's what I love most about both of these doctors. They believe you. They listen to your body's patterns, your symptoms, your cycles, and not just what a piece of paper says. So whether your symptoms cycle every four weeks, hit art every five days, we're never let up at all. There's meaning in that. There's information in that. And we finally have tools that can help us decode all of that up. Next, I'll talk you. I'll walk you through how to choose the right test based on your stage of illness and when testing might actually get in the way of healing. So can hang out for a little bit long, longer. I know, I know this is a lot of information, and this is an episode that you probably want to replay, pause, and kind of write down things, because I really want to make sure that I brought a lot of value in this episode. So at this point, you might be wondering, well, okay, Dr. K, there are all these tests. How do I know which one is right for me? So that's a great question, and the answer isn't one size fits all. It really depends on where you are in your journey and what your body needs right now. So let's walk it together.
First, are you early in your journey?
If you just got bit or symptoms started in the last few weeks, your immune system is still on high alert. This is when some of the antibody based tests like igenics immunoblot or T cell response tests from arm labs can be useful. Your body's fighting, the signal is loud and we might catch it. But if you're dealing with chronic symptoms for months or years, this is where things get more layered. Because for many of you, the bugs may be gone or at least no longer front and center, but your immune system, it's still stuck in the war. Your hormones, they're fried. Your nutrients depleted from years of stress meds and inflammation, and your mitochondria probably waving a white flag. So this is where the right combination of tests becomes incredibly valuable. Not just to find the infection, but to assess the damage and guide repair. So here's a combo we use a lot. So we have kind of that comprehensive testing toolkit where we have immunoblot to check for antibody responses to Borrelia or CO infections like Bartonella barbizia or relapsing fever. Get the T cell response test like an ELI spot or LTT to detect infections. When antibodies are too weak to show up, get the fish test for visualizing live organisms like Babesia Bartonella that may be hiding in biofilms. We get the cytokine Panel, Patterson's Model IL6, VEGF, Rantus CCL5 and so forth. These markers tell us if your immune system is still in fight mode long after the battle should be over.
Hormone panels, because long term, Lyme can tank your adrenals, deplete cortisol, disrupt thyroid, leave sex hormones in the basement. And nutritional assessments checking for key nutrients like B12, folate, magnesium, zinc, glutathione, CoQ10. So these are the raw materials your body needs to rebuild.
We can also look for mitochondrial markers, especially if you're dealing with deep fatigue, brain fog, exercise intolerance. So mitotesting can help you guide your repair strategy. And then we got toxin panels. You know, we have, you know, things like mycotoxins from mold. So putting all those tests next to your symptoms, your timeline and your gut feeling. And now we have a real map, one that not only shows what hits you, but how your body is doing in the aftermath. So here's the truth. You don't need every test, but you need the right ones. And even then, there comes a time when testing isn't the next step. Healing is. If you've already confirmed Lyme or confections, if you know your immune system is dysregulated, if your hormones are flatlined and your nutrients are low, then the next test won't magically fix you. That's a moment when we pivot from searching to rebuilding, from chasing bugs to repairing your terrain. So here's what I tell patients at the Kofel using testing to get a baseline. Use it to confirm patterns, track progress, or pivot treatment. But don't let it define your identity or keep you stuck. You are not your test results. You're not broken.
You're in a process. And sometimes the most powerful test result is simply a practitioner looking at you and saying, I believe you. All right, friends, we covered a lot today. We talked about antibody tests like Igenics immunoblot and the accudart home test designed with recombinant antigens and broadcast species coverage. A huge step forward. Thanks to divisions of pioneers like Dr. Nick Harris, we get the T cell response testing from labs like Arman and Nigenx. Thanks to experts like Dr. Armand Schwarzbach, we now have a clear window into what your immune system is actively doing, even if antibody levels are low. FISH testing a direct way to visualize stealth organisms like Babesia and Bartonella that hide in biofilms and often go undetected by traditional labs. And we explored immune system mapping with Dr. Bruce Patterson's Cytokine panels, showing us that sometimes the infection may be gone, but the immune chaos remains. So here's what I hope you're walking away with. You're not crazy. You're not making it up. And just because the standard test comes back negative doesn't mean there's nothing wrong. Most conventional doctors are using CDC approved tests that were designed decades ago, often looking for just one strain, usually the B31 of Borrelia burgdorferi. But Lyme is not a single strain or infection. It's a whole family of pathogens, often mixed with Bartonella, Babesia, relapsing fever, Borrelia, and much more. So when your doctor says your test is negative, what they're really saying is we didn't look deep enough. And that's not your fault. That's a system problem. And thankfully, people like Dr. Harris, Dr. Arman, Dr. Patterson, Dr. Burscano have spent decades creating better tools and giving us permission to believe our bodies. If this episode brought you clarity, even just a deep exhaust, consider that a win. Healing from Lyme isn't a straight line. It's often a spiral, a crawl, and sometimes a full body surrender. But it is possible, if you're looking for someone to walk that path with you, someone who understands the test results don't always match your experience. You're welcome to reach out to us at the Karl Filt center or book a free discovery call. We specialize in the complex cases, the sensitive souls, the warriors who refuse to give up. And if you are a regular listener, thank you. You're not just surviving Lyme, you're helping rewrite the narrative around it one courageous conversation at a time. I'll drop a link in the show Notes to labs we mentioned, Hygenics, Armor labs, Galaxy diagnostics, DNA connections, Dr. Patterson's work, and more so you can explore and advocate for yourself. Provide from an informed place. If this episode helped you, share it with someone who's still searching. Rate it, review it, subscribe do all the podcasty things to help us reach more Lyme warriors who need this. Until next time, I'm Dr. Michael Karlfield and this is Integrative Lyme Solutions. Be gentle with yourself. You're not behind, you're healing, even on the days it doesn't feel like it. See you next time.
[00:43:41] Speaker C: The Information this podcast is for educational purposes only and it's not designed to diagnose or treat any disease. I hope this podcast impacted you as it did me. Please subscribe so that you can be notified when new episodes are released. There are some excellent shows coming up that you do not want to miss. If you're enjoying these podcasts, please take a moment to write a review. And please don't keep this information to yourself. Share them with your family and friends. You never know what piece of information that will transform their lives. For past episodes and powerful information on how to conquer lyme, go to integrativelimesolutions.com and an additional powerful resource, limestream.com for lime solutions and group discussions. Joint Lyme Conquerors Mentoring Lyme warriors on Facebook. If you'd like to know more about the cutting edge integrative Lyme therapies my center offers, please visit thecarlfeltcenter.com thank you for spending this time with us and I hope to see you at our next episode of Integrative lyme Solutions with Dr. Karl Feld.
[00:44:50] Speaker A: Sat.
