Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies, IgG and IgM by Immunoblot

Casandra

Casandra Test Code AR35603Version 1 (DRAFT)

Performing Lab

Lab ARUP LaboratoriesLab Test ID 0050254CPT Code 86617

Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies, IgG and IgM by Immunoblot

Also known as: LYME WB

Clinical Use

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Use

This test is used to confirm the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies (specifically IgG and IgM) in the serum of patients suspected of having Lyme disease. It is typically used as a second-tier test following an equivocal or positive result from a first-tier Lyme disease screening test, such as an ELISA. The test is particularly useful when performed on patients who have symptoms that have been present for less than four weeks since the appearance of erythema migrans, the characteristic skin rash associated with Lyme disease.

Special Instructions

The test should only be ordered if there is a positive or equivocal first-tier screening test for Lyme disease. It is not recommended to perform this test if the initial ELISA test for Lyme disease is negative. Following serum separation from cells, the serum must be transferred to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube within two hours of collection.

Limitations

The immunoblot test should not be used as the sole method of diagnosing Lyme disease due to its potential for false negatives. A positive IgG result is only reported when any 5 or more of the specified bands are present. For IgM, at least 2 of the specified bands must be present for a positive result. The test's accuracy may be reduced in cases where the samples have been contaminated, severely hemolyzed, lipemic, or icteric. It is also unsuitable for testing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or plasma.

Test Details

FDA Approved