However, you may want to be able to read and understand the results on your own. The two most common diagnostic tests for Lyme are the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western blot. Your doctor will interpret the results and decide whether to diagnose you with Lyme. If your doctor orders a Western blot test, theyll contact you when they receive your results. Your final report will include all the positive bands showing on the blot even if the result is considered negative (there is a minimum number of bands. Western Blotting is much more sensitive and more specific thatn EIA. It’s used to confirm or disprove the results of an earlier test for HIV or Lyme disease. The criterion that requires at least 5 IgG bands reflects the fact that people with Lyme disease have at least 5 antigens (specific molecules) detectable. Go over your test results with your doctor. It is recommended to test for the presence of Lyme disease antibodies if you live in a high risk area for Lyme’s disease. The Western blot test is an antibody test that’s done on a blood sample. Note on test result interpretation: It is not correct to interpret a test result that has only some bands that are positive as being “mildly” or “somewhat” positive for Lyme disease. Together these tests are known as the ELISA/Western Blot. If you’ve been ill for longer than 4-6 weeks and the IgG immunoblot test is negative, it is unlikely that you have Lyme disease, even if the IgM immunoblot is positive. The Western blot detects antibodies to several proteins of B.A positive IgM immunoblot is only meaningful during the first 4 weeks of illness.The sensitivity of the ELISA test is so poor that it. If the ELISA test is negative, the western blot is not performed. Western blot testing is performed only if step 1 test results are positive or equivocal. This means an ELISA test is run first, and if it is positive, a second test called a western blot is performed to confirm the accuracy. Step 1: Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or immunofluorescence assay (IFA) - Total Lyme titer or IgG and IgM titers. This marker is called Lyme Disease AB (IGM), Blot and is an aggregate marker for the three IgM results. The traditional laboratory test used to diagnose Lyme disease is a two-tiered test. Here is the important part: - You need to have 2 out of 3 for the positive IgM result - Or you need to have 5 out of 10 for the positive IgG result. The immunoblot should not be run if the EIA or IFA tests are negative. In the Western blot test there are three bands for IgM and 10 bands for IgG.The immunoblot should not be run without first performing an EIA or IFA.If this sounds complex, that’s because it is. Tests for IgG antibodies are more reliable, but can take 4-6 weeks for the body to produce in large enough quantities for the test to detect them. The downside of testing for IgM antibodies is that they are more likely to give false positive results. IgM antibodies are made sooner, so testing for them can be helpful for identifying patients during the first few weeks of infection. Immunoblot tests for Lyme disease testing can detect two different classes of antibodies: IgM and IgG.
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