The article is taken from http://the-lyme-disease-symptoms.com/
I understood that there is no test to detect a patient’s lymes disease condition. Hence, with my personal experience, I can state that lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis based on indications and symptoms, along with the traveling history to endemic regions. One major thing here is that, no test can forbid lyme disease.
Similar to the customs, my doctor also diagnosed this disease based upon the symptoms, blood test results, and disease history. Here, I came to know that, lymes disease occurs in three stages: early, early disseminated, and late lymes disease.
Antibody Tests:
Antibodies are the immune system’s response to “fight back” infection. Tests attempt to be both precise and receptive (detecting only the lymes disease antibodies).
While analyzing the particular test procedure, I found that fake negative tests emerge due to test sensitivity. A low detectable antibody level alters the bacterium, which restricts the immune system detection or bacterial variations. Further, I also discovered that fake negative tests also emerge as a result of the test malfunction or cross reaction of antibodies.
Types of Diagnostic Tests:
Titer (IFA, EIA, ELISA): As per my knowledge, these tests are mandatory to gauge the level of Bb ( Borrelia burgdorferi) antibodies in fluid. As my tests progressed, I realized that laboratories use different detection techniques, types of measurements, cut-off points, and reagents to diagnose possible lymes disease condition.
Western Blot: This test generates bands signifying the reactivity of immune system’s Bb. Here too, laboratories differ in their analysis and treatment approach to report these bands.
C6 Lyme Peptide ELISA: It recognizes antibodies to a reliable surface protein present on almost every identified strain of the lymes disease bacteria, (Bb) Borrelia burgdorferi. I also found that, the test is a bit sensitive to diagnose all stages of lyme disease, counting those patients who indicate late stage lyme disease.
Direct Detection Tests:
Antigen detection: It spots the presence of an exclusive Bb protein in the patient’s fluid (urine). It is quite helpful to detect LD ( Lyme disease) in patients taking antibiotics or during severe symptom outbreak.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): This test multiplies the figure of Bb DNA to a visible and measurable level.
Culturing: It is a bit difficult, as it not an easy task to nurture the bacterium.
Staining: It is a time consuming test and shows low yield. Here, the trouble is that in Lymes disease, the number of Lyme spirochete is low, and can result in the biopsy showing no bacteria.
One final and important thing that I would like to share with all you is that regular testing without symptoms imply lymes disease infection, even in endemic regions, increases the chance of a positive test even without being infected.