Are Lyme disease tests accurate?

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).

What is the most sensitive test for Lyme disease?

Antibody tests

• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This common and rapid test to identify Lyme disease antibodies is the most sensitive screening test for Lyme disease.
• Western blot test. This test also identifies Lyme disease antibodies and can confirm the results of an ELISA test.

Why are Lyme tests inaccurate?

One reason is timing. It can take weeks or even longer for the body to create a detectable immune response. Unless and until the body develops these antibodies, the tests will be negative, even if the person has Lyme disease. Thus, when the timing of diagnosis is most critical, the two-tier test is least effective.

What 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.

Can a blood test detect Lyme disease years later?

Your immune system continues to make the antibodies for months or years after the infection is gone. This means that once your blood tests positive, it will continue to test positive for months to years even though the bacteria are no longer present.

Can you have lymes disease without knowing?

Can you have Lyme disease without any symptoms? I had blood work that showed I have Lyme but I don’t have any symptoms. If a person doesn’t have signs or symptoms of Lyme disease, then the person does not have Lyme disease as the definition of disease requires symptoms.

What is the specificity of Lyme disease test?

For disseminated Lyme disease, sensitivity is 70%–100%. Specificity is high (>95%) during all stages of disease. Use of other diagnostic tests for Lyme disease is limited.

Are there any false positives for Lyme disease?

In Lyme disease, the second test is highly specific. So there are few false positives. Unfortunately, the screening test is highly insensitive and fails to accurately identify patients who have Lyme disease. The two-tiered test system misses roughly 54% of patients. (Stricker Minerva 2010)

Do you have to have a positive ELISA test for Lyme disease?

If the first test is negative, however, no further testing is recommended by the CDC. According to CDC guidelines, a patient must test positive or indeterminate by ELISA and positive by Western blot tests in order to be diagnosed with Lyme disease.

How can a doctor tell if you have Lyme disease?

Although the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis can be based upon clinical symptoms, most doctors will rely on commercially available tests kits. However, studies show that their sensitivity–meaning how well the tests can identify who actually has Lyme disease–can range anywhere from 7.4% to 86.2%.