Lyme Disease Borrelia IgM and IgG Blot Confirmation Test

Borrelia IGM and IgG (blot) from serum. Borrelia antibodies (IgG-Westernblot) Borrelia confirmation test, Lyme disease

This test is done as confirmation of positive Borrelia antibodies (IgG).

Diagnosis and evaluation of the course of Borrelia infection in different stages of the disease:

Stage I (after a few days to weeks): Erythema (chronicum) migrans (Afzelius-Lipschutz disease) is the first stage of infection with Borrelia.

Stage II (after weeks to months): multiple Erythema the acute appearance of painful red swellings on the front of the lower legs. Lymphozytom, for inflammation of the heart muscle, meningitis.

Stage III (after years): Arthritis, chronica atrophicans (Pick-Herxheimer's disease) is chronic inflammation and atrophy of the skin, inflammation of the brain, and/or of the spinal cord.

The formation of IgG antibodies depends on the stage of the disease:
Stage I: after days to weeks, in about 50% of cases the antibodies are detectable.
Stage II: after weeks to months in about 70% of cases the antibodies are detectable.
Stage III: after years, in about 90% of cases the antibodies are detectable.

Borrelia IgM antibodies can be found in the early stage (about 50% in stage I), as non-specific cross-reaction with e.g. active syphilis infection and about 1/3 of the cases in a late manifestation.
After the infection is cured, IgM antibodies remain detectable.

After the infection is cured, antibodies may remain detectable for a long time.