\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Tests are less accurate for a short period of time after you first become infected. If this first step is negative, no further testing is recommended. You May Like: Cure Lyme Disease Without Antibiotics. A rash resembling a bulls eye on the spot where youve been bitten, Swelling on the joints or severe joint pain. At this point, a medical provider will order a Western blot test to confirm the presence of Lyme disease. There is no clear evidence that treatment is beneficial in patients with Lyme disease who exhibit only nonspecific symptoms. Youll undergo physical evaluation, focusing on blood clotting ability. Others may not. The lymphs blood test is not specific, so a diagnosis cannot be determine by a simple count. This may result in Lyme diagnoses being missed because symptoms are attributed to another illness. Several weeks after infection, FDA cleared tests have very good sensitivity. Here are the results: Cholesterol is 363. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. For one thing, many symptoms of later-stage Lyme are nonspecific, meaning that they may be caused by several different conditions. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 19,889 times. The Lyme disease blood test is used to discover if someone who has the symptoms of a Borrelia burgdorferi infection actually has the bacteria in their bloodstream. Bars in these bands could also indicate that you are also infected with another disease, which is common with Lyme patients. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infections Diseases. PCR - The two-tiered antibody tests are the mainstay of laboratory testing for Lyme disease. This is especially likely if you were recently bitten. If you have neurological symptoms, your doctor may consider a spinal tap. The rash. Tests for Lyme disease involve assessment of either blood samples or CSF, which is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spine. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. To allow the vertebrae to separate as much as possible, youll be asked to sit or lie down on your side and arch your back. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. X Because it is unclear how helpful these tests may be, they are not currently recommended. Using todays tests it is difficult to distinguish between current and previous infections, so if you were previously diagnosed with Lyme disease and may have been re-infected, your doctor should make the diagnosis based on your symptoms and risk factors. 2015;34(11):1260-1262. doi:10.1097/inf.0000000000000858. So, how do you know for sure that you have Lyme disease? Recommendations for Test Performance and Interpretation from the Second National Conference on Serologic Diagnosis of Lyme Disease. Using a Lyme disease test kit is as simple as pricking your finger and smearing or collecting the blood onto the kit for testing. Researchers are studying new diagnostic methods using better antibody tests, direct detection methods, and different ways to measure immune response to Lyme disease. A negative test result is normal. If a test of cerebrospinal fluid is needed, an outpatient procedure called a lumbar puncture can be done in a hospital. More invasive and impactful are CSF tests, which require lumbar puncture. One of these tests is called the ELISA test, and you'll often have a second test called the Western blot test to confirm you have Lyme disease. Mark Gurarie is a freelance writer, editor, and adjunct lecturer of writing composition at George Washington University. If you've ever had problems with your joints before, discuss this with your doctor so they can rule out other conditions. A positive ELISA test may also occur with certain diseases not related to Lyme disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, polymerase chain reaction . One of the challenges of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bite, is ensuring proper diagnosis. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Elevated WBC (>11,500) can indicate an active infection. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Generally, it is best to get tested for Lyme disease if you live where ticks are common or have recently visited such areas. Verywell / Jessica Olah Types of Tests When Lyme disease is suspected, the first steps are an assessment of symptoms and the likelihood of tick bite. Some people who receive antibiotics early in disease may not have a fully developed antibody response or may only develop an antibody response at levels too low to be detected by the test. Blood Tests. The CDC considers a Western blot test to be positive for Lyme disease if at least two of three IgM bands are positive within 30 days of symptom onset, or five of 10 IgG bands are positive at any time. The problem with Lyme disease is that the bacteria can create a hard shell around themselves when inactive so that the blood tests are unable to detect them. One is called a Western blot, which looks at how your antibodies react to specific parts of the Lyme disease bacteria. The IgM and IgG tests are generally ordered first when Lyme disease is suspected. Your test result will look similar to a barcode, with bars in some bands and not in others. Picture Information. (If you were previously diagnosed with Lyme disease and could have been reinfected, a positive Lyme test may not be helpful because it is difficult to distinguish between current and previous infections using currently available tests.). If not found and treated, Lyme disease can lead to problems with your joints, heart, and nervous system. A number of Lyme disease lab tests are designed to identify only a few species of the Borrelia bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. There are two options for the second test. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. There are 9 bands linked to Lyme disease: 18, 23, 24, 25, 31, 34, 37, 39, 83, and 93. 5. My doctor has gone home and I'm up really worried. Cleve Clin J Med. In this scenario, if the two-step approach is positive, the probability of Lyme disease is about 90 percent. Recent progress in Lyme disease and remaining challenges. They are not always accurate, and a spinal tap is invasive. This usually indicates that the Lyme disease infection is in its early stages or that the blood test has produced a false positive result. Sometimes it can take your body time to start producing these antibodies in reaction to the bacteria. It can take anywhere from several days to two weeks to get the results of Lyme disease tests. Your knees and other joints may swell and hurt. Heres a quick breakdown: Despite their broad application, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when it comes to antibody tests like ELISA: For blood tests, the primary complications are bruising and discomfort at the site of needle entry. Some tests give results for two types of antibody, IgM and IgG. Talk to your health care provider about the meaning of your specific test results. I think it's easier to get a diagnosis for Lyme if you test for it right away. Research source It is transmitted by black-legged ticks that are commonly found on animals such deer, dogs, mice, horses, and birds, as well as vegetation in endemic areas. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) requires bars in 5 bands before a confident diagnosis of Lyme disease can be made. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013. Lyme disease tests are conducted with a routine blood draw. This blood test does not always detect the presence of the disease, so patients that have persistent symptoms after having the test may be re-tested in a few weeks. They will also depend on the stage of the disease. The location of the darker bars in your test result determines whether you likely have Lyme disease. If the first step is positive or indeterminate (sometimes called equivocal), the second step should be performed. By using our site, you agree to our. Describe any differences in your mental or physical condition since you were bitten by the tick, even if you dont think the difference is related. So, if your ELISA test is negative, you may want to ask your doctor to repeat the test in two to four weeks, or to get another sample of your blood for testing a week or so later. This means that if you have three or four positive IgG bands, your test will be considered negative by CDC criteria. Given the prevalence and seeming elusiveness of the disease, some of the logical questions concerned persons would ask are: what is the most accurate test for Lyme disease? The DNA Thrombotic Risk Test can tell you just that. There are many species of ticks. Several important steps: With blood tests, the procedure is very rapid, taking only about five minutes. Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria cause Lyme disease. If the first test comes back positive or unclear, the lab will do the second blood test. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. (Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.). Read Also: My Dog Tested Positive For Lyme. "This article explains my bloodwork results better than any other I've read.". 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. IgG Deficiencies. This means that if you have three or four positive IgG bands, your test will be considered negative by CDC criteria. Diagnostic Testing for Syphilis Antibodies, Common and Unusual Symptoms of Lyme Disease, What to Do If You Get a Positive At-Home COVID-19 Test Result, Appropriate laboratory testing in Lyme disease. This test can determine if antibodies are present, if theyve ever been present, and how active the infection happens to be. There will be a pinch as the needle enters the skin. But, if your doctor does not diagnose you with Lyme disease, you can ask to be re-tested in a few weeks. The chart below will help you understand how to interpret the western blot test. Lyme Disease Tests. Your doctor may order further testing, however, if you are symptomatic. Better diagnostic tests are needed that are direct and can detect infection at all stages of Lyme disease. Fevers, chills, and a persistent headache that does not go away. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. If youre feeling anxious about your results, remember that Lyme disease, though debilitating, can be effectively managed. Click to enlarge. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. . Finally, doctors should also consider risk factors that heighten someones probability of exposure to ticks or regions where Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are prevalent. Recommended Reading: Do All Deer Ticks Have Lyme Disease. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Conquering Lyme Disease: Science Bridges the Great Divide. Before CDC will recommend new tests, they must be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. . Recent infections are much easier to detect and an IgM and IgG blood test will often be ordered as complimentary information gathering tools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. In populations where disease is rare or unlikely, testing is likely to lead to false positives more frequently than true positives. How to Cure H. Pylori: Can Natural Remedies Help? These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. A positive ELISA result is abnormal. I had several vitamin deficiencies (b-12 and vitamin D, which were dangerously low.) If the ELISA test is negative, usually no other testing is needed. The good news is that usually a tick has to be attached to your body for 24 to 36 hours to infect you. The two most-used antibody tests are the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western blot. Diseases are often carried by ticks, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, Lyme disease, and tularemia. Your full medical history, including previous unexplained symptoms that may help lead to an accurate diagnosis whether that ends up being Lyme or another condition. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Heres a quick rundown of what you need to know: Blood tests are very easily tolerated and require little in the way of preparation; however, much more is involved when getting ready for a CSF test. Recognizing Untreated Lyme Disease and Getting Treatment, Lyme Disease Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know. The illustration depicts the likelihood of false positive and false negative test results based on the prior probability of a disease occurring in a given population. Depending on your condition, you'll be given an initial screening. In this case, if the person is retested a few weeks later, they should have a positive test if they have Lyme disease. The two most common diagnostic tests for Lyme are the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western blot. Does the patient have signs and symptoms typical of the disease? The chances are great that you will see a full recovery. If there are not enough cells to complete the test, then the results will not be released and a recollection will be required. MedlinePlus. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The timing of the symptoms is often used by a medical provider to establish a time line to a tick bite or exposure to a high-risk region where the disease is commonly transmitted. (For more information, see What do my test results mean? This test measures the level of Borrelia antibodies in your blood. If you live in an area with a high transmission risk and have a rash and flu-like symptoms, your doctor may diagnose Lyme disease without blood tests. Lyme Disease Test $ 119.00 $ 85.00. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. However, the blood test can assist in diagnosis or help confirm a diagnosis. Triglycerides are 703. LDL Direct is 221. A blood test does not only detect Lyme disease it is the most accurate and preferred test for diagnosing the disease. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/spirochetes/lyme-disease, https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/diagnosistesting/labtest/twostep/index.html, https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0715/p297.html, https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/brochure/lymediseasebrochure.pdf, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/, https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-disease-symptom-checklist/, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003332.htm, https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/lyme-disease-blood-test, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC153420/, https://www.ccjm.org/sites/default/files/additional-assets/PDFs/ReviewArticleExample.pdf, http://www.lymedisease.org.au/about-lyme-disease/interpreting-lyme-disease-blood-tests/, https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/diagnosis/, https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/toolkit/factsheets/Hooks_Ticks-and-Lyme-Disease-508.pdf. 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