Ordering Recommendation

Do not order in the absence of a positive or equivocal first-tier screening test for Lyme disease. 
Second-tier testing for use ≤4 weeks after symptom onset.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Serum separator tube.

Specimen Preparation

Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.15 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions

CSF or plasma. Contaminated, heat-inactivated, severely hemolyzed, severely lipemic, and severely icteric specimens.

Remarks
Stability

After separation from cells: Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 2 weeks; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)

Methodology

Qualitative Immunoblot

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

1-4 days

Reference Interval

Test Number
Components
Reference Interval
  B. burgdorferi IgG Immunoblot Negative
  B. burgdorferi Antibody IgM Immunoblot Negative

Interpretive Data

IgG: For this assay, a positive result is reported when any 5 or more of the following 10 bands are present: 18, 23, 28, 30, 39, 41, 45, 58, 66, or 93 kDa. All other banding patterns are reported as negative.

IgM: For this assay, a positive result is reported when any 2 or more of the following bands are present: 23, 39, or 41 kDa. All other banding patterns are reported as negative.

Compliance Category

FDA

Note

Per CDC guidelines, if ELISA test result is NEGATIVE, immunoblot should not be performed.

This test should be used for confirmation of an equivocal or positive B. burgdorferi total antibodies, IgG and/or IgM test performed on patients less than 4 weeks after appearance of erythema migrans.

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

86617 x2

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0050252 B. burgdorferi IgG Immunoblot 6320-6
0050253 B. burgdorferi Antibody IgM Immunoblot 6321-4
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • Lyme Antibodies
  • Lyme Disease
  • Lyme Disease Ab Western Blot
  • Lyme Disease Antibodies (Serum), WB
  • Lyme Disease antibodies WB
Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies, IgG and IgM by Immunoblot