Lyme Borrelia Burgdorferi IgG antibodies by EIA Test

Lyme-Borrelia- Burgdorferi-IgG- antibodies test is used to diagnose Lyme disease in a person. The body produces antibodies IgG & IgM against Borrelia-Burgdorferi bacteria which cause the Lyme disease. The Borrelia-Burgdorferi bacteria enter the human body through a tick bite. The symptoms of the Lyme disease include fever, fatigue, headache, joint pain, skin rash in the shape of a bull’s eye around the tick bite. The serum IgG is detected as early as 2 weeks after onset of disease. If the Lyme disease is left untreated, it will affect the heart and the nervous system. You will only test positive for Lyme disease after four weeks of getting the infection.

Wear a half-sleeved shirt on as full-sleeved shirt might pose difficulty in pulling up the sleeves. Do not wear sweater or jacket. No special preparation is required for this test and you can continue any medication that you are taking by informing your doctor. If your blood sample is needed for other tests then fasting may be required in some cases. Please kindly follow the instructions given by the lab.

The Lyme-Borrelia- Burgdorferi-IgG- antibodies test is conducted for diagnosing Lyme disease in a person. Reference Levels:

• If Borrelia IgG < 0.90 U/ml, then Negative.
• If Borrelia IgM < 0.90 U/ml, then Negative.
• If Borrelia IgG = 0.90 – 1.1 U/ml, then Borderline.
• If Borrelia IgM = 0.90 – 1.1 U/ml, then Borderline.
• If Borrelia IgG > 1.1 U/ml, then Positive.
• If Borrelia IgM > 1.1 U/ml, then Positive.

• If both IgG & IgM are negative then acute Borreliosis is unlikely.
• Negative IgG & positive IgM indicate acute infection in early stages.
• Borderline IgM & negative IgG indicate acute infection and should be confirmed by a follow-up sample after 14 days.
• Negative IgM & borderline IgG may occur in case of late or chronic infection or polyclonal antibody stimulation by other infections.
• Positive or border IgM & positive IgG indicate a persisting acute infection requiring therapy.

About 1 ml or just 2 teaspoons of the blood sample will be drawn from your body. This test needs to be conducted in a well-equipped diagnostic lab or medical centre with Borrelia-Burgdorferi-IgG-antibodies testing facility.

• The skin on the arm is cleaned with an alcohol pad.
• In the next step, the needle will be inserted into the body through the vein which is easily visible over the cleaned skin.
• The blood sample will be collected through the tube attached to the needle which contains the serum gel.
• The tube is separated from the needle and closed with a lid and with the patient’s name on it.
• The blood sample tube is shaken down to remove serum from the clot and then it is sent to the research laboratory for examination.