Lyme Disease Diagnosis
Test used for Lyme Disease Diagnosis
- Physical examination in advanced Lyme disease may show evidence of joint, heart, or
brain abnormalities
- Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi by immunofluorescence (IFA) or ELISA. ELISA
tests are confirmed with a Western blot test.
More information about Lyme Disease Tests
More detailed information about Lyme Disease Diagnosis
A clear diagnosis of Lyme disease can be difficult, and relies on information the
patient provides and the doctor's clinical judgment, particularly through elimination of
other possible causes of the symptoms. Lyme disease may mimic other conditions, including
chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and other diseases with many
symptoms involving multiple body systems. Differential diagnosis (distinguishing Lyme
disease from other diseases) is based on clinical evaluation with laboratory tests used
for clarification, when necessary. A two-test approach is common to confirm the results.
Because of the potential for misleading results (false-positive and false-negative),
laboratory tests alone cannot establish the diagnosis.
Doctors generally know which disease-causing organisms are common in their geographic
area. The most helpful piece of information is whether a tick bite or rash was noticed and
whether it happened locally or while traveling. Doctors may not consider Lyme disease if
it is rare locally, but will take it into account if a patient mentions vacationing in an
area where the disease is commonly found. |
