Description
Why It’s Done
This test is ordered to:
1. Diagnose Early Lyme Disease
• To detect recent or early infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, often when symptoms like fever, rash (erythema migrans), headache, or fatigue first appear.
2. Support Clinical Diagnosis
• Helps confirm suspected Lyme disease, especially when symptoms are present but other tests are inconclusive.
3. Guide Treatment Decisions
• Early diagnosis can lead to prompt antibiotic treatment to prevent progression.
Preparation
1. Fasting
• No fasting required.
2. Medications
• Inform your healthcare provider if you are taking antibiotics or immunosuppressive medications, as they might affect the test results.
3. Sample Collection
• A blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm.
• The procedure is quick and minimally invasive.
