The antigens and molecules that are a part of bacteria named Borrelia burgdorferi create antibodies in an individual’s blood. These antibodies cause a disease called Lyme disease which affects the person’s immune system. The Western blot test is a type of immunoblot for studying the Lyme disease. This test detects two different kinds of antibodies: IgG and IgM. The test for IgG is more reliable than the latter. However, it takes around 4-6 weeks in getting the test results. The test is usually performed as a blood test. But some symptoms such as meningitis require cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing.
