Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group HLA B27: unknown?

Esteemed bilko: Yes, the expert doctor scowlingly informed me that it was unfortunate, as these tests are quite expensive. Fortunately, here in Canada, I didn't pay a cent; nobody does! Go Canada!!

hi
i am sorry to hear u got such a weird result! like the others say i would deffo get it done again, good luck with a proper result.
i found the research on this very interesting reading!
take care
heather

????? Testing unknown seems odd. Fasting does too. You shouldn't have to fast for them to find out if you are HLA-B27. If you had to pay for that test I think I'd be asking why they couldn't tell. Especially with the rhemy admitting it should be one way or the other.

Hey zdog,

I guess you get what you pay for! Just trying to interject a little levity.

Thanks for the chuckle LadyBones! I guess I did get what I paid for!

Seriously though, I would mention that as an American expatriate I have learned that although the States pays around 15 percent and climbing of its GDP on healthcare, a vast minority are poorly insured or have no insurance to speak of. In Canada, there may be fewer specialists, longer wait times, and less access to high-technology, but the country spends significantly less on its system (~10 percent GDP) yet EVERYBODY is covered EQUALLY. Or maybe I've just been sucking up too much loony propaganda?

"loony propaganda"

Zdog, love the play on words!!! Thanks for the laugh.

Hugs,

So, the test comes back a second time: same result:

"REACTION DOUTEUSE: legerement croisee avec la hla b27".

Roughly translated, I hope, as: "Doubtful reaction: lightly crossed with hla-B27.

The doctor didn't seem sure how to interpret this repeat result, although he was confident I don"t have chronic arthritis. He did give me another prescription, this time for the supposed best lab in town, in one last attempt to pinpoint my hla_B27 status.

Any ideas???

Hiya,

B27 +ve does not rule out AS or Spondyloarthropathy, it just adds points on an overall score for AS or a sister condition. B27 -ves are more likely to have another of the sister conditions Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or Psoriasis etc.

Average of diagnosis in B27 with B27 -ve status is around 40.

Good Luck

David

"Douteuse" should actually be "uncertain", I think. Anyhow, thanks Davo for the info. It really clarified things; still room for more clarification, of course, eh? Take 'er easy,

--zdog

Hey Z,
That is some crazy bad luck you're having - with the 2 uncertain tests now.
I used to run tests like the b27 when I was working in a med lab for awhile. The "uncertain" usually refers to when the test isn't quite making the minimum required (and accepted) levels for a positive (or negative) result. Could be faintly positive, or it could be a messed up test. I'm guessing it wasn't negative and it was "almost" positive according to the accepted numbers. Sort of like a test stating a little bit pregnant, but not quite positive. lol I just can't believe that you had the same result twice!
I also can't believe your doc was so unfeeling to say you worry about it too much. Even if you did worry too much, saying it that way isn't going to help matters! That's just poor form.
Hang in there, hopefully the next lab will figure this out.