Both of these tests detect antibodies that are produced by the immune system of someone with Lyme disease. Lyme disease is most commonly diagnosed by a screening test called ELISA and this is then confirmed using a western blot test. It is important for people who want to be tested to make sure the laboratory that performs the test has accreditation with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA). The tests to diagnose Lyme disease are technically complex and require specialist expertise. When tests are done in places where a disease is rare or absent (for example, Lyme disease in Australia), many positive tests will be falsely positive. Laboratory tests are rarely definitive and all tests have a proportion of results which are false positive (test indicates disease in someone without the disease) and false negative (test indicates that there is no disease in someone with the disease). Laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease.ĭiagnosis of any infectious disease requires a combination of clinical experience and assessment by the doctor and understanding of the lab tests and their limitations. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (such as a characteristic rash called erythema migrans), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Lyme disease is not spread from person to person. Ticks with Borrelia infection live in temperate forested areas of northern Asia and Europe (especially central and eastern Europe) and the United States (especially north-eastern, north central and Pacific coastal USA).Īlthough it is possible that Lyme disease may be transmitted from a pregnant woman with the infection to the developing foetus, this has not been documented conclusively. Related ticks occur in Australia but these have not been shown to be infected with Lyme disease Borrelia bacteria.
These ticks are commonly found in parts of Asia, Europe and North America. Only some species of ticks are capable of being infected by the Borrelia bacteria and only these infected ticks can pass the infection on to humans. Lyme disease is transmitted following the bite of certain types of ticks if they have been infected with particular Borrelia bacteria. The disease can also cause inflammation of joints and cause joint pain and long-term neurological symptoms. If left untreated, the Lyme disease infection can spread through the bloodstream and can cause infection in the brain and membranes surrounding the brain (meningo-encephalitis) and infection in or around the heart (endocarditis, myocarditis or pericarditis). Joint pains are particularly prominent with infections acquired in North America. There may also be fever, headaches, tiredness. Not everyone with Lyme disease gets the rash. This normally happens between 3 and 32 days after being bitten by an infected tick.
The first symptom is usually a characteristic pink or red rash that starts as a small red spot that gradually spreads in a much larger circle with a characteristic bulls-eye appearance called erythema migrans.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by bacteria in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group.
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