Important Note

*This test is orderable in Cerner as Lyme Antibody, S-UVMMC

Serology may not be positive until 2 to 4 weeks after initial infection.

CDC currently recommends a two-step process when testing blood for evidence of antibodies against the Lyme disease bacteria. Both steps can be done using the same blood sample.

The first step uses a testing procedure called “EIA” (enzyme immunoassay). If this first step is negative, no further testing of the specimen is recommended. If the first step is positive or indeterminate (sometimes called "equivocal"), the second step should be performed. The second step uses a test called an immunoblot test, commonly, a “Western blot” test. Results are considered positive only if the EIA/IFA and the immunoblot are both positive.

The two steps of Lyme disease testing are designed to be done together. The CDC does not recommend skipping the first test and just performing the Western blot only. Doing so will increase the frequency of false positive results and may lead to misdiagnosis and improper treatment.

Our reference laboratory will only perform the western blot as a reflex to positive or equivocal serological test results.