Lyme Disease, Immunoblot – Recent and Past Exposure

Lyme disease is transmitted by a tick vector carrying Borrelia burgdorferi. Immunoblot testing qualitatively examines, with high specificity, antibodies in a patient’s specimen. Immunoblot testing is appropriate for confirming a detected EIA or IFA test result.

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria which is carried by ticks and spread to humans when they are bitten. There is currently no cure for lyme disease, and the symptoms are non-specific but can progress to severe central nervous system disease. The test for lyme disease includes western blot test which checks for the presence of proteins specific to the bacteria which cause the disease. This test is useful for rapid diagnosis and indicates both recent and active disease, as well as past infection.

This test is performed in following conditions such as:

• “Bulls-eye” rash at bite site
• Fever, chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Muscle and joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Meningitis
• Bell’s Palsy

Also Known As: Western Blot test