ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

0050216: Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies, Total by ELISA

Test Mnemonic: LYME EIA
Methodology: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Performed: Sun, Tue-Sat

Reported: 1-3 days

Specimen Required:  
Collect: One 4 mL SST.

Transport: 2 mL serum at 2-8°C. (Min: 0.2 mL)  Submit specimen in an ARUP Standard Transport Tube.

Pediatric Collection/Transport: 0.1 mL serum at 2-8°C.

Remarks: Separate serum from cells ASAP. 

Unacceptable Conditions: CSF.  Severely lipemic, heat-inactivated, contaminated, or hemolyzed specimens.

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

Reference Interval:
These reference intervals are to be used in the interpretation of Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies, Total by ELISA result:
0.99 LIV or less: Negative - Antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi not detected.
1.00-1.20 LIV: Equivocal - Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful.
1.21 LIV or greater: Positive - Probable presence of antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi detected.

Interpretive Data:
Current CDC recommendations for the serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease are to screen with a polyvalent ELISA test and confirm equivocal and positive results with Western blot.  Both IgM and IgG Western blots should be performed on samples less than four weeks after appearance of erythema migrans.  Only IgG Western blot should be performed on samples greater than four weeks after the disease onset.  IgM Western blot in the chronic stage is not recommended and does not aid in the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis or chronic Lyme disease.  Please submit requests for appropriate Western blot testing within 10 days.



Note:
Once this test is performed, if:
a) Negative - no further testing is done;
b) Positive or equivocal - Western blot testing will be performed on the original sample upon receiving a request. Sample will be held for 30 days only.

CPT Code(s):
86618