Lyme disease – IgG/IgM screening serology

Description

Lyme Disease – IgG/IgM Screening Serology – Accurate Detection of Tick-Borne Infection

The Lyme Disease – IgG/IgM Screening Serology Test from Lab Tests Dubai is a specialized blood testthat detects antibodies (IgM and IgG) against Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease—a tick-borne illness increasingly recognized in travelers and expatriates returning from endemic regions.

While not all tick bites transmit Lyme disease, this test is essential for:

• Evaluating flu-like illness after tick exposure
• Investigating unexplained joint pain, fatigue, or neurological symptoms
• Confirming suspected Lyme disease in travelers from North America, Europe, or Asia
• Supporting diagnosis in patients with erythema migrans (bull’s-eye rash) or Lyme arthritis

Using high-sensitivity chemiluminescence technology, this serum-based test serves as the first step in a two-tiered testing approach recommended by the CDC and IDSA, helping infectious disease specialists and general physicians rule in or out Lyme disease.

Available with home blood collection, Lab Tests Dubai ensures accurate, private, and stress-free testing—so you can get answers after a tick bite or unexplained illness.

Why You Need This Test

If you’ve been bitten by a tick or traveled to a wooded/tick-prone area and now have fever, fatigue, or joint pain, this test could reveal a treatable tick-borne infection.

You need the Lyme IgG/IgM Test if:

• You had a tick bite and developed symptoms within 3–30 days
• You have a bull’s-eye rash (erythema migrans)—even if it has faded
• You suffer from unexplained joint pain (especially knees)
• You experience fatigue, headache, or memory issues after outdoor exposure
• You’ve returned from Lyme-endemic areas (Northeastern US, Central Europe, Scandinavia)
• You have facial palsy, palpitations, or nerve pain without clear cause

This test helps:

• Confirm or rule out Lyme disease
• Avoid misdiagnosis as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue
• Guide antibiotic treatment
• Prevent late-stage complications

Early detection = faster recovery and fewer long-term issues.

Symptoms That Indicate This Test

Consider the Lyme Test if you experience:

✅ Early Localized Stage (3–30 days post-bite):

• Erythema migrans – expanding red rash (70–80% of cases)
• Fever, chills, fatigue
• Muscle and joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

✅ Early Disseminated Stage (days to weeks):

• Multiple rashes on body
• Facial palsy (Bell’s palsy)
• Heart palpitations or chest pain (Lyme carditis)
• Nerve pain, numbness, or shooting pains

✅ Late Disseminated Stage (months to years):

• Lyme arthritis – painful, swollen knees
• Neurological symptoms – memory loss, brain fog, neuropathy
• Chronic fatigue or sleep disturbances

✅ For High-Risk Individuals:

• Hikers, campers, or gardeners in endemic zones
• Travelers from high-risk countries
• Expats returning from North America or Europe

These signs may point to Lyme disease—and this test helps start the diagnostic process.

Natural Production: How IgM & IgG Antibodies Reveal Infection Timing

After infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, your immune system produces:

• IgM antibodies: Appear 2–4 weeks after infection → early infection
• IgG antibodies: Rise 4–6 weeks post-infection → established or past infection

Key Insight:

• IgM positive only → May indicate recent infection (but can persist or be false positive)
• IgG positive → Suggests active or past infection
• Both negative → Makes Lyme unlikely (unless tested too early)

Important Notes:

• Antibiotics early in infection may suppress antibody response
• False positives can occur with syphilis, EBV, or autoimmune diseases
• Two-tiered testing (ELISA/EIA → Western Blot) is gold standard in many countries

This test is screening only—positive results may require confirmatory testing.

What Happens If Untreated? Risks of Ignoring Lyme Disease

Ignoring Lyme disease can lead to:

⚠️ Lyme Arthritis – chronic joint swelling and pain
⚠️ Neurological Damage – meningitis, encephalopathy, neuropathy
⚠️ Lyme Carditis – heart block, palpitations, syncope
⚠️ Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) – fatigue, brain fog
⚠️ Misdiagnosis & Delayed Care – mistaken for MS, fibromyalgia, or depression

The good news? Lyme disease is highly treatable with:

• Oral antibiotics (doxycycline, amoxicillin, cefuroxime) for early disease
• IV antibiotics (ceftriaxone) for neurological or cardiac involvement

Early testing = full recovery in most cases.

How to Prepare for the Test

To ensure accurate results:

✅ No fasting required
✅ Continue your regular medications—but inform your doctor
✅ Wait at least 4 weeks after tick bite or symptom onset for reliable antibodies
✅ Inform your doctor of:

• Tick exposure history (location, duration)
• Rash appearance and duration
• Current symptoms and travel history

A serum blood sample is collected via standard draw—available at our labs or via home collection.

Test Overview: Chemiluminescence Method

Interpretation:

• Negative IgM & IgG → No evidence of infection (if tested ≥4 weeks post-exposure)
• IgM+ only → Possible early infection (requires clinical correlation)
• IgG+ (with or without IgM) → Likely active or past infection
• Positive results may require confirmatory testing (e.g., Western Blot)

Results are reported with clinical notes for your physician.

Benefits of the Lyme IgG/IgM Blood Test

🔹 Early Detection of Tick-Borne Illness
Identify Lyme before complications arise.

🔹 Travel & Exposure Clarity
Get answers after outdoor adventures in endemic zones.

🔹 Guide Antibiotic Therapy
Support early treatment decisions.

🔹 Rule Out Mimics
Differentiate from autoimmune or neurological disorders.

🔹 Peace of Mind
Know if your symptoms are infection-related.

If you’re worried about a tick bite, strange rash, or lingering fatigue, the Lyme Disease IgG/IgM Testgives you the answers you need in 14 days