The VLsE / C6 test is performed to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment of the disease, which is Lyme disease. For years, specialists have been looking for a study that would allow for quick diagnosis of Borrelia infection and for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment. The solution to the latter problem can be the VlsE / C6 test. What is this test?
The VLsE / C6test is performed to monitor the effectiveness of Lyme disease treatment. One of the difficulties in the diagnosis of Lyme disease is the lack of sensitive and specific laboratory markers allowing for the assessment of the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.
The standard way to assess its effectiveness is the observation of disease symptoms. Considering that it is not a precise method of therapy evaluation, new laboratory methods are still being searched for, and one of them is the VLsE / C6 test.
Contents:
- VLsE / C6 test and Lyme disease
- VLsE / C6 test - what is it?
- VLsE / C6 test - results
- VLsE / C6 test - restrictions
VLsE / C6 test and Lyme disease
VLsE antigen is a protein found in the cell wall of Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.
A fragment of the VLsE protein called C6 (VLsE / C6) causes a very strong and rapid response of the immune system with the generation of specific antibodies against it. The C6 fragment of the VLsE protein is very specific for the most important varieties of Borrelia burgdorferi.
Therefore, , the recombinant genetic (synthetic) C6 proteinis added to the serological tests for the diagnosis of Lyme disease, which significantly increases the sensitivity of the test.
The presence of antibodies against the VLsE / C6 protein in patients with Lyme disease is observed in:
• 20-50% of patients in the early stage of infection • 70-90% of patients with early disseminated Lyme disease • almost 100% of patients with late Lyme disease
It has also been observed that the concentration of antibodies against VLsE / C6 protein decreases after successful antibiotic treatment. Due to this fact, their measurement can be used as a laboratory marker to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in patients with Lyme disease.
VLsE / C6 test - what is it?
The VLsE / C6 test is based on the determination of the concentration of IgM and IgG antibodies specific for VIsE / C6 antigen using the ELISA method.The test is performed withvenous blood,is not reimbursed by the National He alth Fund andcosts between PLN 80-150.
VLsE / C6 test - results
The VLsE / C6 test is usually ordered at three treatment time points: at the start of antibiotic therapy and after 6 and 12 months, asperforming a single test is unreliable.
At least a 4-fold decrease in the level of antibodies compared to the initial result, i.e. the one performed at the beginning of the therapy, and the disappearance of Lyme disease symptoms prove the effectiveness of the antibiotic therapy.
If there is no decrease in the level of antibodies, the next test can be performed after a few weeksand if there are still no changes, it means that the antibiotics used are ineffective.
VLsE / C6 test - restrictions
The addition of the VLsE / C6 antigen to a mixture of other antigens used in the serological diagnosis of Lyme disease (e.g. ELISA) has been shown to be effective as a sensitive marker of Borrelia infection.
However, many clinicians believe that self-determination of anti-VLsE / C6 antibodies to monitor the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in patients with Lyme disease requires further research and confirmation of its clinical usefulness.
- Lyme disease - research. Examine yourself and the tick
- ELISA - what does it detect? How to read the results? Test price
- Western Blot test and Lyme disease. Interpretation of test results
- PCR (test) - application. What is the PCR technique?
- Lymphocyte Transformation Test (LTT)
- CD57 test and Lyme disease. Standards, interpretation of results
- Circulating Immune Complexes (KKIs)
Sources:
- Wormser G.P. et al. Single-tier testing with the C6 peptide ELISA kit compared with two-tier testing for Lyme disease. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2013; 75: 9-15.
- Krzemień P. J. The importance of the Vlse / C6 antigen as a marker in the diagnosis of early Lyme borreliosis and the study of its treatment effectiveness. He alth Problems of Civilization 2022; 11 (2): 87-92.
- Laboratory diagnostics of tick-borne diseases Recommendations of the Working Group: National Chamber of Laboratory Diagnosticians, National Institute of Public He alth-National Institute of Hygiene, National Consultant in the field of infectious diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Białystok, Polish Society of Virology, Warsaw 2014 .
Karolina Karabin, MD, PhD, molecular biologist, laboratory diagnostician, Cambridge Diagnostics Polska Of Educationbiologist with a specialization in microbiology and laboratory diagnostician with over 10 years of experience in laboratory work. A graduate of the College of Molecular Medicine and a member of the Polish Society of Human Genetics. Head of research grants at the Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics at the Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases of the Medical University of Warsaw. She defended the title of doctor of medical sciences in the field of medical biology at the 1st Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Warsaw. Author of many scientific and popular science works in the field of laboratory diagnostics, molecular biology and nutrition. On a daily basis, as a specialist in the field of laboratory diagnostics, he runs the content department at Cambridge Diagnostics Polska and cooperates with a team of nutritionists at the CD Dietary Clinic. He shares his practical knowledge on diagnostics and diet therapy of diseases with specialists at conferences, training sessions, and in magazines and websites. She is particularly interested in the influence of modern lifestyle on molecular processes in the body.
A biologist with a specialization in microbiology and a laboratory diagnostician with 10 years of experience in laboratory work and a member of the Polish Society of Human Genetics. On a daily basis, as a specialist in the field of laboratory diagnostics, he runs the content department at Cambridge Diagnostics Polska and cooperates with a team of nutritionists at the Dietary Clinic at Cambridge Diagnostics.
Author of many scientific and popular science works in the field of laboratory diagnostics, molecular biology and nutrition. Manager of research grants at the Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics at the Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases of the Medical University of Warsaw. This year, he is planning to defend his doctoral dissertation at the 1st Medical Faculty of the Medical University of Warsaw in the field of leukemia genetics.
He shares his practical knowledge with specialists at scientific conferences, training sessions, and in magazines and on internet portals. She is particularly interested in the influence of nutrition and modern lifestyle on molecular processes in the body.