Negative is good! 

Fine as frog hair my northern friend ...

Yes, it would be interesting to know why the Doc ordered the test in the first place ... anyway, glad it's negative (I think)

Davestr

Well not really because she did say the test as we all figured out was negative... of course that should be a positive thing ... I think Yes, I will call my Dr. but I still need an ultra sound

I hope you are doing great Dave.

So still clear as mud?

Guess a call to the Doc then.

Wishing you well,

Dave

I finally spoke to my NP today about this. She told me that this test is for an auto-immune disorder and could apply to anything. I told her all I saw and everyone was about liver.

She is an angel and did however tell me nicely that many patients call her about tests and since this was not under her umbrella she should not really be involved. I apologized because she was right and just said, I called you because you know more than anybody about the liver and I and a number of friends could really only find information pertaining to that.

No harm, No foul I think but I will never do that again. She is a wealth of information but I really should have called my Dr. who ordered the test. ** Shrugs.

SF

Yes I agree in principle that should be the case. Regarding if anything was wrong I would be called, well my doctor will not get this report until at least mid next week. It takes that long and it's pathetic.

I get it right away because I got an account with that lab and can see it online in real time as they are added.

I missed my call back from my NP today and will speak with her Monday and ask her all about it. She really is a specialist in liver. I won't worry either because it all seems ok but hearing exactly what it means will be nice.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

SF

Greetings,

Rule of thumb:

<1:20 and reference is <1:20.

The key with all tests is "reference".

Just like with a finding of UND is reference = <12

If you have a test done, and your range matches reference range you are good to go.

Happy Friday.

JimmyK

I'd like to think it's all very good and Tig's initial response and your conclusion re: <1:20 means negative (i.e. Not to worry) ... sounds most logical to me unless proven otherwise. I think the comment "If there's a problem, you would've been advised of it. Right" says a lot too.

I don't blame you for being curious, that's a good thing.

Dave

p.s. Yes, when you get the scoop on the mud, let us know ...

Yes I absolutely will. On my report and my findings the ratios was <1:20 = Negative.. and I was <1:20 but yes this is as clear as mud.

Hi SF,

I say just ask the Doctor why they administered the test instead of playing "What If" guessing games.

As Friday would say, "Just the facts ma'am".

JMHO,

Dave

Then there is a reference by Medscape:

The presence of serum antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) is a highly specific indication of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

The reference range of antimitochondrial antibody immunoassay is a titer less than 1:40 on enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and negative on indirect immunofluorescence

I think you're better off giving your doc and NP a call to get some clarification on this. There are simply too many interpretations on these results and it's far too easy to read something into them. It will be interesting to know why this test was ordered. Keep us informed.

This probably has nothing to do with this.... but..... I have read on other forums about Mitochondria being damaged from the type of treatment we have used.  It was well documented in HIV treatments for many years.  I know there is a Mitochondria website but I am still totally confused about it all.  You can have drug induced damage that can be repaired with certain supplements and vitamins.  I know that some states have specialists that deal with this.  Again I think I am way off base here but the word Mitochondria jumped out at me because I have seen some buzz about it lately.

Tig56 wrote:

---

SF,

Seems the data I can find would indicate this is a way some doctors determine the incidence of cirrhosis. Were I to assume anything, since your results are less than 20, your results are negative. If there's a problem, you would've been advised of it. Right?

Mitochondrial M2 Antibody, IgG (ELISA)

20.0 Units or less: Negative 20.1-24.9 Units: Equivocal 25.0 Units or greater: Positive

---

 Yes, I found this first and then actual ratios as I posted. The number indicates negative antibody but hey, I have cirrhosis  so none of this makes sense. I will do what Dave said and call the doctor but actually more likely to call my NP who happens to specialize in the liver. She would have more time, for sure call me back and shed more light in a manner I could understand. I wish I had that page to show you but it was on another computer and chances of finding it again are slim and none, unless it's in my history.

Thank you

Ya, what he said ...

SF,

Seems the data I can find would indicate this is a way some doctors determine the incidence of cirrhosis. Were I to assume anything, since your results are less than 20, your results are negative. If there's a problem, you would've been advised of it. Right?

Hi SF,

I'm sure you already know what most of us will say ...

"That's a great question for the doc that gave ya the test (GP?)."

If it were me, I'd call the doctor's office and explain that I have questions/ concerns about that test and would like the doctor to give me a call to answer a few quick questions. I usually get at least a call back from my GP's nurse and talk to her about whatever, if she can't answer it (which is often the case) she relays it to the doc and I usually get a call back from the doc shortly after.

Not sure how it works in Canada but here, if you call the office requesting information regarding followup to test, procedure, previous visit etc. they are obligated to get back to you about it. A good doctor will just call back because they care, a bad doctor will usually call back so they aren't liable if anything happens.

Hopefully you've got a good doc, if not, perhaps it's time to find a new one.

May take a few days to get an answer but it seems to me you should get an answer if ya call them.

Wishing you the best,

Dave

So, I had two sets of blood work done on Tuesday, my regular ones  from my specialist and some Thyroid from my GP.

My thyroid tests have come down some but I noticed on the lab report something that seems totally unrelated.

Mitochondria Antibody  ** I google and read and it just seems and I don't know why he did this test that it has to do with bile duct cirrhosis.

My results finally came back and they were <1:20 and reference is <1:20.

I found articles that I could not understand that showed numbers like 1:65000 etc.

Does anybody know exactly what this is for. Does my range say I do not have this antibody that I believe I read. If I do not, what does this mean.

I am totally confused as to what this test is for. Any input would be so welcomed. I think if I google another page my head will explode

 ** This is funny or not funny. My TSH from the same blood draw in the same lab on two requisitions was different on each one. This gives me a pretty good idea how much variation a report can have and it makes no sense. 

SF