Mat Test For Lyme Disease

For laboratory testing for neurological lyme disease.
Mat test for lyme disease. This test can t check for the bacteria that causes lyme disease. After the needle is inserted a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. Theirs uses an elaboration of the western blot technique and is quite good. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay elisa test.
The better tests for lyme by far the most llmd recommended test to confirm chronic lyme is made by igenex labs in california. But because it can sometimes provide false positive results it s not used as the sole basis for diagnosis. Lyme disease testing is usually done with your blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Lyme infection is unlikely if the tick is attached for less than 36 to 48 hours.
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm using a small needle. Two common lab tests for lyme disease are the enzyme immunoassay eia test and the western blot test. For a lyme disease blood test. Three other tests that may be used to diagnose lyme disease are polymerase chain reaction pcr antigen detection and culture testing.
Both steps are required and can be done using the same blood sample. If you think you ve been bitten and have signs and symptoms of lyme disease particularly if you live in an area where lyme disease is prevalent contact your doctor. If this first step is negative no further testing is recommended. Serological testing for neurological lyme disease is based on demonstrating intrathecal synthesis of borrelia specific antibodies in csf.
These tests measure the antibodies that form when someone is infected with borrelia burgdorferi the bacterium that causes lyme. Enzyme immunoassay eia test. Elisa enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test. Igenex also developed a newer test called immunoblot igm and igg which claims a 98 accuracy.
The longer the tick remains attached to your skin the greater your risk of getting the disease. Cdc currently recommends a two step testing process for lyme disease. They are called direct tests because they detect the bacteria not just your immune response to it. If the first step is positive or indeterminate sometimes called equivocal the second step should be performed.
This test will tell you if you test positive for previous exposure to three strains of borrelia bacteria. The test used most often to detect lyme disease elisa detects antibodies to b.