Is it possible to have Lyme disease and test negative?

There may not have been time for antibodies to develop; the immune system may be suppressed; or the person may be infected with a strain the test doesn’t measure. Lyme disease is known to inhibit the immune system and 20-30% of patients have falsely negative antibody tests.

How accurate is a Lyme titer?

A tricky diagnosis In the first three weeks after infection, the test only detects Lyme 29 to 40 percent of the time. (The test is 87 percent accurate once Lyme spreads to the neurological system, and 97 percent accurate for patients who develop Lyme arthritis).

Can a bullseye rash not be Lyme disease?

Erythema migrans is only caused by Lyme disease. A similar-looking circular rash is caused by a bite from a lone star tick, which is different from the tick that causes Lyme disease. But this rash will never be in the shape of a bull’s-eye.

What is a positive Lyme test result?

A positive result means that Borrelia antibodies were found and that you may have had or have Lyme disease. False-positive results sometimes do occur. This means the test could say you have the infection when you don’t.

What is a normal Lyme titer?

Reference Range Normal levels vary depending on the laboratory assay performed, as follows. Borrelia burgdorferi antibody enzyme immunoassay (Lyme index value) : < 0.9 = negative. 0.91-1.09 = equivocal.

What disease can mimic Lyme disease?

Chronic Lyme disease, for instance, has symptoms very similar to those of several other chronic illnesses, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Multiple sclerosis and arthritis also have symptoms similar to Lyme disease.

What is the best test for Lyme disease?

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• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The test used most often to detect Lyme disease, ELISA detects antibodies to B. burgdorferi.
• Western blot test. If the ELISA test is positive, this test is usually done to confirm the diagnosis.

How often is Lyme disease misdiagnosed?

In fact, some doctors suspect that Babesia is present in about 20 percent of Lyme disease cases. In some cases, diagnosing and treating the coinfection is critical to eradicating other tick-borne diseases.

What does a negative IgM mean for Lyme disease?

Positive IgM, Negative IgG, Negative Western Blot. This usually indicates that the Lyme disease infection is in its early stages or that the blood test has produced a false positive result. Negative IgM, Positive IgG, Positive Western Blot.

What to do if your Lyme disease test is negative?

If Lyme disease test accuracy is a concern, doctors should consider multiple types of tests, a panel approach, to increase the chances of detecting the disease. Additionally, they should always consider the patient’s Lyme disease test results in conjunction with their current or previously reported symptoms.

Can a TBRF test be negative for Lyme disease?

However, if a patient with TBRF takes a Lyme disease test, the TBRF will not show up, causing the Lyme test to be negative even though the patient is still sick with an infection. For patients and doctors, being aware of the many factors that can influence Lyme disease lab tests can better inform your perspective and reliance on the results.

Can a positive Western blot test show Lyme disease?

If these tests are positive and followed up by a positive Western Blot test, then the chances are very good that Lyme disease is present. This is especially true if antibody levels continue to rise over time.