Borrelia IgG levels take several weeks to show up, exhibiting high levels between four to six months after the onset of infection, and these high levels can remain for years. Borrelia IgM levels are detectable two to three weeks after the initial onset of Lyme disease, peaking in concentration at six weeks before diminishing. These proteins are called antibodies, and the invading organisms that they target are called antigens.īoth tests measure the levels of borrelia immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies and borrelia immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies present in the blood. Whenever the human body is invaded by a foreign organism, the immune system releases proteins to fight infection. The diagnosis is conclusive when both the Lyme ELISA and the Western blot tests yield positive results.īorrelia burgdorferi is the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. If the Lyme ELISA test result is either positive or equivocal, then a Western blot test should be performed to confirm a diagnosis of Lyme disease. If the Lyme ELISA test result is negative, then no further testing for Lyme disease is recommended. Testing guidelines set forth by the CDC recommend a two-tiered system for performing these tests. Immunoblot, also known as a Western blot test.Enzyme immunoassay, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test.There are two recommended laboratory tests that screen for Lyme disease, and they can both be performed on serum from the same blood sample. Any patient who presents with the rash or who has a known history of exposure to the blacklegged tick and is experiencing these symptoms, with or without the rash, should undergo laboratory testing for Lyme disease. In the absence of the rash, particularly in individuals who are unaware of being bitten by a tick, the generalized symptoms listed above can be indicative of a number of other illnesses that present with the same complaints. These other initial symptoms may include:Ī complicating factor in the diagnosis of Lyme disease is that the rash does not present in all cases. The presentation of the erythema migrans rash, along with a few additional early-stage symptoms, is a strong indicator of Lyme disease infection. Some patients are unaware of ever having been bitten by a tick, and the appearance of this rash is their first clue. This rash is circular, red and can resemble a bulls-eye target site. Within 3 to 30 days, the characteristic erythema migrans rash may appear. If a patient is unsure as to how long the tick was attached before it was extricated, he or she must be vigilant for the onset of symptoms. In order to transmit Lyme disease, an infected tick must remain attached to a host for a period of at least 36 to 48 hours. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that roughly 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in the United States each year. In the Pacific region, Lyme disease is transmitted by the western blacklegged tick. A significant number of cases have also been diagnosed along the Pacific coast in northern California, Oregon and Washington. Although the illness has been reported in all 50 states, 95 percent of all cases are concentrated within the northeast and Midwestern states. Since that time, the geographic range of Lyme disease has expanded. Lyme disease was first identified in Lyme, Connecticut in 1982, where it was determined to be transmitted by the blacklegged tick, which is also known as the deer tick. ![]() ![]() The good news is that early treatment with an extended period of antibiotic therapy cures most Lyme disease cases, making diagnosis a critical first step toward recovery. Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease that can have debilitating effects on the joints, nervous system and heart if the infection is not diagnosed and treated. According to the Lyme Action Network, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease and the second most common infectious disease in the United States.
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