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Lyme Disease
Formal name: Anti-borrelia burgdorferi IgM/IgG
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The Test Sample
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What is being tested?Your blood is being tested for antibodies to the Lyme disease bacterium. When you have these antibodies in your blood, it means that you may have come in contact with the Lyme disease bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by a bite from an infected deer tick.
This test also measures antibodies to other bacteria, so that if the test is positive, an additional test, called a Western Blot, is used to help your doctor confirm a diagnosis of Lyme disease.
How is the sample collected for testing?
A blood sample is taken by needle from a vein in the arm.
NOTE: If undergoing medical tests makes you or someone you care for anxious, embarrassed, or even difficult to manage, you might consider reading one or more of the following articles: Coping with Test Pain, Discomfort, and Anxiety, Tips on Blood Testing, Tips to Help Children through Their Medical Tests, and Tips to Help the Elderly through Their Medical Tests.
Another article, Follow That Sample, provides a glimpse at the collection and processing of a blood sample and throat culture.
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This article was last reviewed on
June 29, 2006.
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