What is the most reliable test for Lyme disease?

A blood test does not only detect Lyme disease; it is the most accurate and preferred test for diagnosing the disease. If a patient with Lyme disease shows signs that the central nervous system has been affected by the disease, western blot testing on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can be performed.

What does an equivocal Lyme test result mean?

(3) There is an “equivocal” category for both IgG and IgM blots which indicates that although there are not sufficient antibody bands present for the blot to be reactive, there is significant immunologic activity that may be related to Lyme disease. Result. CDC Criteria. (Antibody.CDC)

What does non reactive Lyme test mean?

A negative result means that no antibodies were found. But Lyme disease is hard to diagnose. This is partly because the antibodies may not show up in your blood for several weeks. If your results are negative shortly after you’ve been infected, the result could be a false-negative.

What does reflex to Western blot mean?

Lyme Disease Ab with Reflex to Blot (IgG, IgM) (REFL) – Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted by ticks. EIA is the screening test with high sensitivity for antibody detection. Western blot testing qualitatively examines with high specificity antibodies in a patient’s specimen.

How are two tiered Lyme disease tests done?

Two-tiered Lyme disease testing uses two tests. The first is a screening test that should detect anyone who might have the disease. Tests that do this well have are regarded as having high sensitivity. This test is followed by a second test that is intended to make sure that only people with the disease are diagnosed.

Are there any FDA approved tests for Lyme disease?

Choice is particularly important given the low quality of Lyme disease tests generally. Although the CDC recommends that patients use “FDA-approved” tests, LDo does not support this restriction because there are no FDA-approved test for Lyme disease.

When to get a western blot for Lyme disease?

The CDC recommends that doctors first order an ELISA to screen for Lyme disease and then confirm Lyme disease with a Western blot. During the first four-to-six weeks of Lyme infection, these Lyme disease tests are unreliable because most people have not yet developed the antibody response that the test measures.

How does Lyme disease show up on a blood test?

Once Lyme disease is confirmed, there will almost always be detectable levels of the bacteria which causes the disease in the IgG antibodies in their blood. This will mean that their IgG blood test results will have a standard deviation in what is considered as normal because of the presence of the disease, even if it has been effectively “cured.”.