HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

I Had A Blood Test Come Back Positive For Borrelia

Posted on Fri, 2 Aug 2019

Question: I had a blood test come back positive for Borrelia ImmunoBlot IGM. My Doctor told me that I have Lyme disease and that this is a cousin infection. Can there be a false positive or should I consider this diagnosis valid. Also tested positive for B. burgdorferi IFA GMA. Have been suffering from muscle twitching and pins and needles on skin for over 3 months now. The doctor thinks the Lyme could go back as far as 13 years.

Answered by Dr. Riyanka Chail (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Most probably it is positive for Lymes as two tests are positive

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic.
I have gone through your problems and I am of the opinion that

1. Diagnosing lymes disease is done through 2 step tests like EIA- Enzyme immunoassay and IFA - indirect immunoflourescence assay, which if found positive should be confirmed with Borrelia Immunoblot IgM .

2. Since , in your case IFA and Immunoblot IgM is positive, it hints towards a possible "recent" infection of Lymes disease as IgM antibodies are positive in recent infections.

About the doubt of false positive IgM- Since already IFA is positive , it is unlikely that IgM could be giving false results.

Since there are symptoms like muscle twitching and pins and needles on skin , even symptom wise your doctors is most probably correct in his medical diagnosis.

However, i would like to ask you is there any recent history of exposure to ticks ?
Also are there flu like symptoms or red rashes on skin from recent past or now?

Hope your question was answered to a satisfactory extent.

If there is anything else i can help you with please let me know.

Get well soon.
Regards,
Dr. Riyanka Chail (General and Family Physician)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Riyanka Chail (24 minutes later)

Hello Doctor,
Thank you for your response. 12 years ago I was exposed to bullseye rashes on my body with flu symptoms. The doctor treated with 10 days of antibiotics. It cleared. No recent exposure to my knowledge. THoughts? Is there a way I can send you my test results to review?

Answered by Dr. Riyanka Chail (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes you can send us your test results

Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Thank you for replying.
Yes you can send us your results by attaching it with your question . There is an option for attaching reports.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Riyanka Chail (26 minutes later)

Sent. Let me know what you think, please.

Answered by Dr. Riyanka Chail (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Your doctor is most probably correct in diagnosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
I have gone through the reports . I can understand your dilemma.

However , i feel IFA test is positive for B. Burgdorferi.
The immunoblot result may be the reason why you are having doubts .. However, i feel it is important to go with your doctor's advice as it could be a very recent infection.

Any day , taking treatment with antibiotics is more advisable than waiting.
Also i feel you stay in an area with tick problems. Kindly do try to enforce pest control regarding that. If you regularly travel to mountains or do trekking you need to be very careful regarding ticks.

Get well soon.
Any thing further i can help you with?

Regards,
Dr. Riyanka

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana