Bilharzia screen

[robisa86]

Hi all, can anybody help?

My Bilharzia/Schistosomiasis ELISA result has come back as "\R\"

Does anybody know what this means? Does it like mean the test was 'Reactive' i.e. Positive?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

[mkh9]

Hi, Yes you probably have a risk from the fresh water exposures you mentioned. We'll see what happens. Do you have symptoms?
mkh9

[robisa86]

Thanks for the reply. In terms of exposure, I went white water rafting in the Nile (Uganda) in 2006, I have also been to Uganda in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. I was also in Rwanda in 2006 and recall paddling in Lake Kivu near the Congolese border. Kenya in 2009 and Zanzibar in 2012, although all the only water exposure on that trip was the sea, so salt water. 2013 I was in south India and was in the water occassionally.

I think the most likely exposure though was 2006, rafting in Uganda and visiting Lake Kivu. This was before I became aware of the risks of Bilharzia and have tried to avoid risk zones since then.  

[mkh9]

Yes sometimes having high Eosinophils can mean a parasitic infection. It can also mean an allergy or skin problems or some other things.  If you were in a foreign country where Shistosomiasis is prevalent such as Africa or South East Asia, Middle East, Brazil, Carribean and some other countries, and you could have been exposed then it would be good to repeat and/or at least call the doctor about the report. The red blood cells can be due to a lot of things. We'll see. It could be due to an infection. At this point I'll stay neutral.

A repeat test can be due to a variety of things. Some tests have specific things that interfere with the test or some other problem with the test. It wouldn't be because it wasn't detected. If it wasn't detected it would say Negative or N.
At least that is my take on the (R) result. I am a clinical microbiologist scientist and also worked in biotech so I understand these tests fairly well. I would give the doctor a call and see whats up.

What was your possible exposure?

Let me know how it goes.
mkh9

[robisa86]

Thanks for your reply. Just out of interest would a repeat test be because there was a problem with the initial test, i.e. how it was undertaken in the lab or would it be because Bilharzia wasn't detected? I'll call my doctor on Monday,
Many thanks.

[mkh9]

Granted your test may be different. That is why you should ask them to be sure as to what they want or what the results are. In this case it looks like it they read them and positive, negative or Invalid.
mkh9

[mkh9]

It looks to be like it means Repeat. This is because they could read the test properly in order to you an answer. So it may be invalid. I would call the doctor or lab. Which way you had the test ordered and ask them what it means or if they need another specimen. It looks like it is invalid to me going by one of the ELISA tests online. See link:
http://www.rapid-diagnostics.com/downloads/RMD%20Pamphlet%20Just%2030.09.08.pdf

Scroll down about 4 pages until you see the 4 ELISA test Paddles. It is a test much like this one. There are two tests that are invalid and it says to repeat.
mkh9