Lab Tests

Laboratory tests can be helpful, but not in the earliest stages of the disease. Although the actual bacteria for Lyme are difficult to isolate in the blood, blood tests can detect antibodies that the immune system makes to fight off the bacteria. There isn't one perfect way to test for Lyme antibodies, but there are a variety of screening tests.

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These tests can't be relied upon during the first few weeks of infection (when the rash first appears) because a patient's immune system has not yet produced enough antibodies to be detected. Antibiotics given to treat a Lyme infection might also prevent antibodies from reaching detectable levels if the infection is still causing symptoms. Some tests can't distinguish Lyme disease antibodies from other disease antibodies, so a patient with a different condition could test positive for Lyme disease. A lack of standardization of antibody tests and poor quality control might also contribute to inaccuracies in test results.