Lyme Disease Test

In the United States, Lyme disease typically occurs in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and North Central states. It has also been reported to occur in Northern California. The most prevalent (most common) strain that causes Lyme disease in the United States is Borrelia burgdorferi.

If you live or have traveled to a state where Lyme disease infections are endemic, this increases your risk. Lyme disease is endemic in the following states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. For regulatory reasons, Everlywell is not able to offer testing in New Jersey, New York, or Rhode Island.

Lyme disease can also occur in Europe and Asia, where Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii are most commonly found.

Ticks infected with a Lyme disease bacterium can be found in woodlands across the European continent from northern Turkey to northern Sweden. However, Lyme disease is considered endemic in central Europe, where the following countries have the highest tick infection rates: Austria, Czech Republic, southern Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In Europe, Lyme disease is primarily transmitted by the castor bean tick.

Lyme disease has been reported throughout Asia, as well, such as in Russia, Mongolia, northern China, Japan, and Korea⁠—though infection from a Lyme disease bacterium appears to be relatively uncommon in these areas. In Asia, Lyme disease is transmitted by the taiga tick (which is also found in Eastern Europe).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests a two-step testing process to check for a Lyme disease infection, both of which involve antibody testing (the body makes specific Lyme disease antibodies in response to the infection), typically done on the same blood sample.

If the first step in the process returns a negative test result, then the second step is not necessary. However, if the first step yields a positive result, the second test is recommended as confirmation of a Lyme disease diagnosis. The Everlywell Lyme Disease Test follows this recommended protocol from the CDC, so it includes the two-step testing process.

Here’s how to check for Lyme disease with the Everlywell test.

To take our at-home Lyme disease Test, collect a small sample of blood with a simple finger prick. You’ll then send the sample to a lab for analysis (a prepaid shipping label is included with the kit), and you’ll be able to view your results on our secure, online platform.

 Do not take this Lyme disease antibody test if:

• You are experiencing a round rash after a tick bite, such as the typical bullseye (bull's eye) rash associated with early Lyme disease. Seek immediate medical attention from a healthcare professional instead of taking this test. A round rash (from a tick bite) could be a sign of Lyme disease, and it's best to consult a medical professional and receive Lyme disease treatment as soon as possible to help prevent complications associated with the disease.

• You suspect you might have been recently infected with Lyme disease. The Lyme disease antibodies detected by this test take several weeks to build up in your bloodstream, so taking the test before a few weeks have passed may result in a false negative.

• You haven’t lived in or traveled to an area where Lyme disease occurs. Consider discussing any symptoms with your healthcare provider—instead of taking this test—to help determine if you’ve been exposed to a Lyme disease bacterium.

• You’ve previously received a Lyme disease diagnosis, were treated for the disease, and are still symptomatic. Consider discussing any new or ongoing symptoms with your healthcare provider instead of taking this test.

• You are currently being treated for Lyme disease infection or taking antibiotics for other infections. Consider discussing any symptoms with your healthcare provider instead of taking this test.

Because interpreting Lyme disease test results can be difficult, we’ve designed your test results to be easy to read and understand.

This test will tell you if you test positive for previous exposure to three strains of Borrelia bacteria: Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia afzelii. Lyme disease is caused by infection from Borrelia bacteria, which are transmitted by bites from infected black-legged ticks – or if you have traveled to Europe or Asia, it can be transmitted by castor bean ticks and taiga ticks.

In response to the infection, your body produces specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. IgG antibodies are detectable at peak levels about six weeks after the tick bite first occurs, and may be detected in one’s blood many years later.

If you test positive, your test results – along with your travel history and symptoms – may indicate a Lyme infection that would be considered a diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Important Note: A positive test result is not a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease. Diagnosing Lyme disease can only be done by a medical professional if you have Lyme disease symptoms and signs and a history of possible exposure to infected black-legged ticks. Suppose you test positive with our at-home Lyme disease testing option. In that case, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with a physician from our independent physician network—who will do a virtual consultation and may prescribe antibiotic treatment, if appropriate.

This test includes a two-step process for Lyme disease laboratory testing, which significantly reduces the number of false positives of this infectious disease. Thus, you’ll only receive a positive result if your finger prick blood sample returns positive for two separate laboratory evaluations:

Screening Test: The screening test uses an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that measures IgG and IgM antibody reactivity.

Confirmatory Test: The confirmatory test is an immunoblot assay, which is only done if the screening test is positive.

Both of these laboratory test evaluations are included in the Lyme Disease Test, and you only need to send in one blood sample.

A positive test result is not a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease, but a provider from the Everlywell independent physician network is here for you. If your lab test results are positive, a care coordinator will contact you to discuss next steps and how a physician may diagnose and treat Lyme disease (if appropriate).