Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood (venous draw)
- Fasting: Not required
- Turnaround: 7–10 business days. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Early detection supports timely treatment — identifying Lyme disease early may help reduce the risk of complications affecting the joints, nervous system, or heart
- No physician visit required — order online 24/7 and access thousands of testing locations nationwide
- Confirmatory antibody testing — evaluates Lyme disease-specific IgM and IgG antibodies using blot-based technology to help confirm positive or equivocal Lyme screening results
- Confidential results — results delivered directly to your secure online account
Who Is This Test For?
- Individuals with positive or equivocal Lyme disease screening results requiring confirmatory testing
- Recent tick bite victims experiencing symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease
- Individuals with characteristic symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, joint pain, facial paralysis, or an expanding rash
- Residents of or travelers to high-incidence Lyme disease regions
- Patients with persistent symptoms despite previous negative screening results
- Healthcare providers seeking additional evidence to support Lyme disease diagnosis
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Order online — Purchase your test and schedule a blood draw at a convenient lab location near you
- Get tested — Visit a participating laboratory for a quick blood draw
- Review results — Access secure, HIPAA-compliant results online within 7-10 business days
FAQ
Can I get tested immediately after a tick bite?
Testing immediately after a tick bite is generally not recommended because antibodies may not be detectable for several weeks. Antibody testing is typically most informative 2–4 weeks after exposure or symptom onset.
Is this a screening test or a confirmatory test?
This is a confirmatory Lyme disease antibody test. It evaluates specific Lyme disease antibody bands and is generally used following a positive or equivocal first-tier screening test in accordance with CDC recommendations.
Will a positive test mean I currently have Lyme disease?
Not necessarily. Positive antibody results indicate exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi and must be interpreted alongside symptoms, exposure history, and other clinical findings. Antibodies may remain detectable long after an infection has resolved.
How accurate is this test for early Lyme disease?
Antibody-based testing may have reduced sensitivity during the first few weeks after infection because the immune system may not yet have produced detectable antibody levels. Accuracy generally improves as the infection progresses.
Should I stop antibiotics before testing?
No. Continue all medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not discontinue antibiotics or other treatments without medical guidance.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
This test detects IgM and IgG antibodies directed against Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Unlike initial screening tests that measure overall Lyme antibodies, this assay evaluates reactivity to specific Lyme disease antigens using blot-based technology.
LabCorp's test utilizes a Line Blot methodology, while Quest Diagnostics' test utilizes an Immunoblot methodology. Although these methodologies are not identical and are not traditional Western blots, both serve the same general purpose as second-tier confirmatory Lyme disease antibody testing.
The CDC-recommended two-tier testing approach uses an initial Lyme disease screening assay followed by confirmatory immunoblot or line blot testing when indicated. This approach helps improve diagnostic specificity and reduce false-positive results.
Who would benefit from this test?
This test may benefit individuals who:
- Received a positive or equivocal Lyme disease screening result
- Were exposed to ticks in wooded, grassy, or brush-filled environments
- Develop symptoms consistent with Lyme disease, including fatigue, fever, headache, joint pain, facial nerve palsy, or erythema migrans ("bull's-eye") rash
- Live in or have traveled to areas where Lyme disease is common
- Continue to experience symptoms despite previous negative screening results when clinical suspicion remains high
When should I order this test?
Because Lyme disease antibodies take time to develop, testing is generally most useful several weeks after exposure or symptom onset.
Testing may be considered when:
- A Lyme disease screening test returns a positive or equivocal result
Symptoms suggest Lyme disease despite an inconclusive screening result - Repeat testing is recommended by a healthcare provider due to ongoing symptoms or exposure risk
Testing performed too early after exposure may produce false-negative results because antibodies may not yet be detectable.
How do I interpret the results?
Results are reported based on the presence or absence of Lyme disease-specific antibody bands and an overall interpretation.
General interpretations include:
- Negative: Insufficient Lyme-specific antibody reactivity detected
- Positive IgM: Evidence of a recent antibody response; generally most useful within the first 30 days of symptoms
- Positive IgG: Evidence of an established antibody response consistent with current or past infection
- Indeterminate or Equivocal: Some antibody reactivity detected, but criteria for positivity are not met
Results should always be interpreted in conjunction with symptoms, exposure history, physical examination findings, and other laboratory data.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges and interpretive criteria may vary by laboratory. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation of test results.
The CDC does not recommend blot-based Lyme disease testing as an initial screening method. Immunoblot and line blot assays are generally intended as confirmatory tests following positive or equivocal first-tier Lyme disease screening results.
Lyme Immunoblot/Line Blot Interpretation Criteria
Although these assays are not traditional Western blots, they evaluate Lyme disease-specific antibody bands using blot-based methodologies and established interpretive criteria.
General criteria commonly include:
- IgM Positive: Reactivity to at least 2 of the following bands: 23, 39, and 41 kDa (typically interpreted only during the first 30 days of symptoms)
- IgG Positive: Reactivity to multiple Lyme-specific bands according to laboratory-established criteria
- Negative: Insufficient band reactivity for a positive interpretation
A negative result during the early stages of infection does not completely exclude Lyme disease. Repeat testing may be considered when symptoms persist and clinical suspicion remains high.
Pre-Test Preparation
No fasting or special dietary preparation is required.
To prepare for testing:
- Maintain normal eating and drinking habits
- Stay well hydrated before your blood draw
- Continue prescribed medications unless instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider
- Wear clothing that allows easy access to your arm for specimen collection
- Record the approximate date of tick exposure or symptom onset, if known
How Often Should I Get Tested?
Testing frequency depends on your clinical situation:
- Positive or equivocal screening result: Confirmatory testing as recommended
- Early negative result with persistent symptoms: Repeat testing may be considered after several weeks
- Previous Lyme disease infection: Routine repeat antibody testing is generally not recommended
- New tick exposure with new symptoms: Testing may be appropriate based on healthcare provider recommendations
Because antibodies can remain detectable for months or years, antibody testing should not be used to monitor treatment response or confirm cure.
Why Early Detection Matters
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. When recognized and treated promptly, most patients recover completely with appropriate antibiotic therapy. Delayed diagnosis may increase the risk of complications involving the joints, nervous system, or cardiovascular system.
Appropriate testing, combined with clinical evaluation and exposure history, can help healthcare providers identify Lyme disease and guide treatment decisions at the most effective stage of infection.
Related tests you may consider
Lyme Disease DNA Blood Test, Qualitative, Real-Time PCR — Detects the genetic material (DNA) of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. This test helps confirm active infection, even before antibodies develop.
Borrelia Miyamotoi Antibodies Blood Test, IgG and IgM — Screens for antibodies against Borrelia miyamotoi, a tick-borne bacterium related to Lyme disease. It helps identify current or past infection in individuals with Lyme-like symptoms.
HNK1 (CD57) Profile Blood Test — Measures CD57 natural killer (NK) cells, which may be low in people with chronic infections such as Lyme disease. It helps evaluate immune function and monitor recovery in long-term illness.
