Lyme disease antibody blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia bacteria, which are passed to people through the bite of an infected tick. In the UK, ticks live in woodland, heathland, moorland and long grass. This test looks for two classes of antibody the immune system makes against Borrelia: IgM, which tends to appear earlier, and IgG, which appears later and can stay in the blood for a long time.

Antibodies show that your immune system has met the bacteria. They do not appear straight away, which is why timing matters and why the test is always read alongside your symptoms and history of possible tick exposure.

The price includes the sample taken at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a practitioner review of your result, and a GP feedback report on request.

Who it is for

• You were bitten by a tick, or spent time where ticks are common, and later felt unwell.
• You have had flu-like symptoms, aching joints or tiredness that started weeks after time outdoors.
• You have symptoms such as facial weakness, nerve pain or swollen joints and Lyme disease has been raised as a possibility.
• Your doctor has suggested antibody testing because Lyme disease is suspected but there was no typical rash.

Understanding your result

A negative result means antibodies were not found in this sample. Early in the infection, often in the first four weeks, the body may not yet have made enough antibody to detect, so a negative test does not rule Lyme disease out if symptoms suggest it. NHS guidance supports repeating the test a few weeks later where Lyme disease is still suspected.

A positive or equivocal result is usually checked with a more specific confirmatory test. IgG antibodies can remain after successful treatment, and IgM antibodies sometimes react to other infections, so a positive result is a prompt for discussion with a doctor rather than a diagnosis on its own.

Preparing for your test

No fasting is needed and you can eat and drink normally. Please tell us roughly when the tick bite or outdoor exposure happened and whether you have already taken antibiotics. If you have the typical spreading red rash (erythema migrans) after a tick bite, see your GP promptly, because NHS guidance is to treat this rash without waiting for a blood test.

If tiredness and joint aches are part of a wider picture, Tired All The Time looks at common causes such as iron, thyroid and vitamin levels. You can also compare every blood test and price in Chiswick.

Questions

How much is a Lyme disease antibody test in Chiswick?

The Lyme Disease Antibodies test costs £219. This covers the blood sample at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a practitioner review of your result, and a GP feedback report on request.

How soon after a tick bite can I test?

Antibodies take time to develop, and testing in the first few weeks after a bite can give a negative result even when infection is present.

Do I need a test if I have a bullseye rash?

Not usually. The typical spreading rash after a tick bite is diagnosed by its appearance, and NHS guidance is to start treatment without a blood test. Please see your GP promptly.

Can I still test positive after treatment?

Yes. IgG antibodies can stay in the blood for months or years after the infection has been treated, so a positive result does not always mean the infection is still active.