Infection
Borrelia Antibody Test
Infection
A blood test that picks up IgM and IgG antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi — the sneaky little bacterium behind Lyme disease.
VAT-exempt medical service
Got bitten by a tick? Or just spent a lovely afternoon in the tall grass and now you're wondering? This test checks whether your immune system has started fighting Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. It looks at two types of antibodies: IgM (the "this is happening right now" kind) and IgG (the "this happened a while ago" kind). Catching it early means antibiotics can do their job before things get complicated — think joint pain, brain fog, and fatigue that just won't quit.
If you've pulled a tick off your body — or spent time in an area where ticks love to hang out — and you're now dealing with a weird rash, fever, achy joints, or bone-deep tiredness, it's time to test. Heads up: antibodies can take a few weeks to show up after a bite, so timing matters. This test is also worth considering if you've got mystery symptoms like swollen joints, neurological weirdness, or fatigue that nobody can explain.
What a high value can mean
Positive IgM? That points to a recent infection — probably within the last few weeks. Positive IgG? Your immune system has been at this for a while, suggesting an older or ongoing infection. Either way, a positive result needs follow-up testing and a conversation with your doctor, since false positives can happen.
What a low value can mean
A negative result means no Borrelia antibodies were found in your blood right now. That could mean you're in the clear — or it could be too early for antibodies to have formed. If your symptoms stick around or you were recently bitten, come back and test again in 4-6 weeks.
No special preparation needed. Just bring valid ID to your appointment.
Order your test
Choose your test and pay online. Your lab referral is created straight away.
Give your sample
Visit any of our partner sampling locations. No appointment needed at most of them.
The lab analyses it
Your sample is analysed at an accredited Swedish laboratory.
Get your results
Your values appear in your account with reference ranges and an explanation of each marker.
Give it 2-6 weeks. Antibodies need time to build up. If your first test comes back negative but you still feel off, retest after 4-6 weeks.
Yes, especially early on. In the first weeks of infection, antibodies may not be detectable yet. That's why symptoms and clinical history matter just as much as the test itself.
Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacterium. Lyme disease is what it causes. The blood test detects the antibodies your body makes to fight it.