Lyme Disease Test with Confirmation

What

Measures the levels of IgM and IgG antibodies in response to the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.

Who

Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.

How

Blood

Where

Find a location near you

Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.

About the Test

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of blacklegged ticks, which are commonly called deer ticks. Ticks usually acquire Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria by biting infected animals, such as deer and small rodents. For Lyme disease to be transmitted, an infected tick needs to be attached to the host for 36 to 48 hours.

Our test follows CDC recommended 2-step testing process for Lyme disease. Both steps use the same blood sample for testing. Your sample measures the levels of IgM and IgG antibodies produced in the blood in response to Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that cause Lyme disease. If your initial test results are positive, a second test is done to confirm results.

This test may be right for you if:

You spent time in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent (listed in FAQ 2)
You have been in outdoor areas where ticks live (eg, wooded or brushy areas)
You are experiencing symptoms such as rash, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes

If you are experiencing heart or neurologic symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention.

This test may not be right for you if:

The tick bite occurred within the past 2 to 3 weeks (too soon to test)
You are not experiencing symptoms

This test measures the level of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), antibodies produced in the blood in response to Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The immune system's natural defense against Borrelia bacteria is to produce specific antibodies (IgM and IgG) to help fight off the infection. Antibodies are proteins created by the immune system that target specific foreign threats, such as bacteria and viruses, including Borrelia bacteria spread by a tick bite.

Because it takes time for antibodies to develop in response to Borrelia burgdorferi infection, testing at the right time is essential. IgM antibody levels usually reach their highest levels in a few weeks after infection, whereas IgG antibodies develop more slowly, appearing from about 4 to 6 weeks following infection. Testing should be considered for individuals with possible exposure to infected blacklegged ticks based on the presence of recognizable signs and symptoms of infection.

A common, early sign of Lyme disease is a bullseye rash (known as erythema migrans) greater than the size of a quarter. It appears in 70% of people infected with Lyme disease. If left untreated, Lyme disease can produce a wide variety of signs and symptoms, depending on the stage of infection.

Early signs and symptoms (3 to 30 days after a tick bite) may include:

Bullseye rash
Fever
Chills
Muscle and joint aches
Swollen lymph nodes
Headache
Fatigue

Later signs and symptoms (days to months after tick bite) may include:

Nervous System
- Severe headaches and neck stiffness
- Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face)
- Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
- Problems with short-term memory
Heart
- Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
Other
- Additional erythema migrans rashes on other areas of the body
- Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints o Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones
- Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath

Untreated Lyme disease can produce a wide range of symptoms depending on the stage of infection. Seek immediate medical attention if you are having heart or neurologic symptoms, especially if you have had a tick bite, live in an area known for Lyme disease, or have recently traveled to an area where Lyme disease is common.

You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test.

When your results are ready, we will send them to you in a clear, easy-to-read report. You will have the option to speak with an independent physician to discuss your results. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call to inform you. Your test results will be available to you a few days after we collect your sample.

If initial Lyme disease results are abnormal, confirmation testing is performed on the sample you have already provided at no additional cost, as required by standard diagnostic guidelines.

How Does it Work?

Take an in-person test at a Quest Diagnostics location.

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Schedule your appointment after purchasing a test to minimize wait time.

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Easy to buy & simple to schedule

After your purchase, schedule an appointment at a nearby Quest Diagnostics location and have your specimen sample collected by a trained healthcare professional.

Fast online results, with support

Access test results from your phone as soon as they’re available, with the option to discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of lyme disease.

Your results are available on our free, secure patient portal that you can access on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop. You will receive an email notification when your results are ready. You can also share your results with your healthcare provider, family, or friends.

FAQs

What types of ticks transmit Lyme disease?

The blacklegged tick spreads the disease in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and North Central United States, while the western blacklegged tick spreads the disease on the Pacific Coast.

Several tick types do not appear to transmit Lyme disease, including lone star ticks, the American dog tick, the Rocky Mountain wood tick, and the brown dog tick.

Humans are usually infected through bites from immature ticks known as nymphs, which are extremely small and difficult to see. Nymphs feed in the spring and summer when people are more likely to spend time outdoors. Adult ticks, which are more active during cooler months, can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but since they are larger, they are more likely to be discovered and removed before the bacteria can be transmitted.

In what regions are people most susceptible to Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a year-round problem, but April through November is considered tick season. Although Lyme disease does not occur nationwide, it may be diagnosed anywhere. In these cases, people often travel between states, and where they live may be different from where they were infected.

In the United States, most infections occur in the following geographical areas¹:

Connecticut
Delaware
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
Washington, DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Ticks cannot fly or jump and can be found on the tips of grasses and shrubs in a variety of outdoor settings, including gardens, lawns, and wooded areas, particularly near trails. Blacklegged ticks are prevalent in wooded, brushy areas where rodents, deer, and other mammals can find food and shelter.

You may be at greater risk for Lyme disease if you live in an area where the disease is more prevalent. Tick bites are most common among campers, hikers, and people who work in gardens and other leafy outdoor environments.

What precautions can I take to avoid tick bites?

The best defense against Lyme disease is to reduce tick exposure, including taking steps such as the following:

Treat clothing, boots, camping, and hiking gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, a pesticide
Examine your clothing and equipment for ticks
Check your whole body for ticks daily, including your belly button, hair, ears, and any places that may be difficult to see
Check pets daily for ticks
Be alert for fever or rash
After being outdoors, take a shower as soon as possible
Remove ticks promptly and correctly

Our references

References

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD). Last reviewed April 29, 2022. www.cdc.gov/lyme/datasurveillance/maps-recent.html

Learn more

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD). Last reviewed May 13, 2022. How to remove a tick. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html