STREP, BARTONELLA, LYME, MYCOPLASMA, AND OTHERS
PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) is a clinical diagnosis, meaning there is no single blood test that can definitively “prove” or “disprove” the condition. Instead, doctors use blood tests to look for infectious triggers, assess immune system function, and rule out other medical issues.
Common blood tests ordered during a PANS workup include:
1. Testing for Infectious Triggers
Because PANS can be triggered by various infections, doctors often check for:
- Strep (PANDAS subset): Throat culture (standard and/or perianal), ASO (antistreptolysin O) titers, and Anti-DNase B titers to look for evidence of a recent strep infection.
- Mycoplasma: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (IgG/IgM).
- Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases: Lyme Western Blot and testing for co-infections like Bartonella or Babesia.
- Viruses: Testing for Epstein-Barr (EBV), Herpes Simplex (HSV), and Coxsackie virus.
2. Immune Function & Inflammation
- Immunoglobulins: Quantitative IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE levels to check for underlying immune deficiencies.
- Inflammatory Markers: CBC (Complete Blood Count), C-reactive protein (CRP), and ANA (Antinuclear antibody).
- Nutrient Levels: Deficiencies in Vitamin D, B12, and Ferritin are often monitored as they can impact neurological health.
3. The Cunningham Panel
This is a specialty blood test marketed by Moleculera Labs that measures five specific autoantibodies (such as Dopamine D1 and D2L receptors) that may attack brain tissue.
We find it is useful to not be both Elevated and Borderline, so in 8–14 months you can redo the test to see if autoimmunity to brain tissue is dropping.
Some feel a positive is not required for a PANS diagnosis