Borrelia IgM
Sample: Serum
Schedule: Daily (Immunofluorescence)
Units: Titer
Range: Negative. A positive IgM result indicates a possible current infection
Remarks: Borrelia burgdorferi (B.burgdorferi), a coiled spirochaete, is the causative agent of Lyme disease, which is characterized by a systemic illness with arthritis. The first stage of the disease develops haematogenous dissemination that may produce a syndrome similar to IM (Infectious Mononucleosis) with conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, pneumonitis.
The second stage (after weeks to several months) may develop cardiac arrythmia, meningitis, encephalitis. The chronic stage of borreliosis develops months after the initial infection, may last for years and there may be involvement of the joints with intermittent oligoarthritis, neuritis, myositis and chronic skin lesions. Laboratory diagnosis Borreliosis is established with the DNA Borrelia Test, the most reliable diagnostic laboratory tool for the Lyme disease.
Specific IFA and ELISA antibody tests are not conclusive because of the variable host immune response reaction and because of the cross antibody reaction with other spirochaetae, mainly with treponema (syphilis).
