The positive predictive value of Lyme Elisa for the diagnosis of Lyme disease in children. What Happens During a Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)?.

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Appropriate laboratory testing in Lyme disease. The presence of antibodies is quantified as negative if the result is less than 1.0, possible and needing retest if the value is 1.0 to 1.2, and positive if this is found to be above 1.21.Ĭenters for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infections Diseases.

The CSF test is reserved for more advanced cases of Lyme disease, especially when spread to the central nervous system is suspected.

Since this DNA can linger for months after the infection has cleared, false positives can occur. It’s typically used to detect early cases or those that are very advanced.

PCR tests detect bacterial DNA rather than antibodies, offering positive or negative results.

In most cases, Western blot will confirm a case caught using the ELISA test. Two out of a possible three IgM bands indicate positive results within four weeks, and five out of 10 IgG bands show this after that time.

Western blot results list levels of IgM and IgG antibodies.

This test may be less effective in the early going-since antibodies may not have formed-but is very sensitive.

Measures are broken down into numbers, with results greater than or equal to 1.0 indicating potential infection. The ELISA test detects the presence of antibodies in the blood, essentially categorizing normal from abnormal results.For lumbar puncture CSF tests, it’s a good idea to have someone else drive you home. What to bring: While you should leave valuables at home, it’s a good idea to have your ID, a list of medications you’re taking, as well as a notebook for note-taking.Talk to your insurer to find out what is covered. Cost and health insurance: Insurance plans can vary when it comes to testing and treatment for Lyme disease, with some companies being much more restrictive.Since some types of blood tests that might be drawn at the same time may require fasting beforehand, it’s worth checking with your healthcare provider. Food and drink: Generally speaking, there are no dietary restrictions before these tests.Those who need lumbar puncture will be asked to change into a gown. What to wear: Loose-fitting, comfortable clothes are fine for blood draws.Those getting lumbar puncture are prone on a bed, examination table, or operating table. Location: Samples of blood and CSF can be taken at a clinic or in the hospital.A lumbar puncture for CSF takes about 45 minutes for the procedure, then lying flat for an hour or two. Timing: A blood draw takes about five minutes.At this stage, the infection often has spread to the central nervous system, so CSF antibody or PCR tests can also help. Stage 3: The antibodies produced to fight off Lyme disease persist in the body long after infection, so two-tiered testing could still detect an advanced form of Lyme disease.An initial positive or inconclusive result (usually an ELISA test) will need to be repeated for confirmation (usually the Western blot test). At this point, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a two-stage testing process. Stage 2: During the “early disseminated” stage of Lyme disease, the infection has begun spreading to other bodily systems.Since it takes a couple of weeks for the body to develop antibodies, tests like ELISA are less likely to be accurate in this phase. Early stage: Within a month of exposure to Lyme disease, during its “localized” phase, testing isn’t generally necessary if Lyme-specific symptoms, such as the rash, are present.

Western blot test detects