Lyme Disease Antibodies (IgG, IgM)

Lyme Disease Antibodies (IgG, IgM) are tests used to detect the presence of antibodies produced by the immune system in response to Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

IgM antibodies typically appear in the early stages of infection, while IgG antibodies develop later and can persist for a longer time.

Positive results for both IgG and IgM antibodies indicate an active or recent infection, while positive IgG antibodies alone may indicate a past infection.

Lyme disease can go undetected (and therefore untreated) for years after initial infection.

Testing for Lyme is incredibly important because it can eventually lead to brain and nerve damage.

Lyme disease is most common tick-borne illness in North America, is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms--more than 100 of them--can mimic other conditions like the flu, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and arthritis.