Lyme Disease Antibodies (Acute Disease)

Label Mnemonic:	LYMEA
Epic code:	LAB7769
Downtime form:	A-1a Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery

Chemistry
6240 RCP
356-3527

Specimen(s):

Serum

Collection Medium:

Red top tube 5 mL (Clot Activator)

Minimum:

3 mL whole blood from red top tube or TWO red top Microtainer^® devices for pediatric patients.

Testing Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Turn Around Time:

2 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

Borrelia burgdorferi IgM & IgG Antibodies
  <=0.8 AI: Negative
  0.9 – 1.0 AI: Equivocal
  >=1.1 AI: Positive

Lyme Ab IgG Confirmation
  Negative

Lyme Ab IgM Confirmation
  Negative

Comments:

This panel is appropriate for Lyme disease testing less than four weeks from erythema migrans or onset of disease symptoms.

If initial screen is equivocal or positive, then IgG and IgM Immunoblot will be added. Additional charges apply.

Current CDC recommendations for the serological diagnosis of Lyme disease are to screen with a polyvalent ELISA test and confirm equivocals and positives with Western blot. Both IgM and IgG Western blots should be performed on specimens obtained less than four weeks after appearance of erythema migrans or disease symptoms. Only IgG Western blot is to be performed on specimens greater than four weeks after 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.

Methodology:

Multiplex Flow Immunoassay/Qualitative Western Blot

CPT Code:

86618 Lyme IgG/IgM; if positive add, 86617 x2 Lyme IgG/IgM