Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Small animals and rodents are known carriers of this bacterium. For an individual to get infected, a small tick needs to bite an infected animal or rodent before it bites the individual. Lyme disease is therefore more common in areas where ticks tend to breed freely. Lyme disease is also more common in wooded areas or places with plenty of open grassland.

Lyme Disease Test

The test for Lyme disease involves a blood test or the use of a spinal tap. The spinal tap procedure is used because Lyme disease can affect the spinal fluid as well. Lyme disease is an often undiagnosed condition that creates severe health problems. Lyme disease may produce symptoms that are present across the entire body of the individual. This leads to a situation where the individual is often misdiagnosed. Other full body conditions like fibromyalgia are often suspected in cases that are actually caused by the Lyme disease bacteria.

Lyme Disease Test Accuracy and False Negative Results

Lyme disease test false negative results arise from a variety of reasons. The most common reasons for Lyme disease test false negative results include inappropriate testing methods, low level of antibodies in the blood and other treatments that have suppressed antibody production. One should remember that a Lyme disease test involves testing for the antibodies and not for the bacteria. Therefore, any individual who has a poor functioning immune system and Lyme disease will present with a Lyme disease test false negative report. People who have sought other treatment options to alleviate their pain may also present with Lyme disease false negative results. This is because the medications may suppress the presence of the bacteria for some time which leads to reduced antibody production in this patient’s body.  

There is a considerable issue with Lyme disease test accuracy. Many patients suffer for years from Lyme disease because of the Lyme disease test false negative result. Patients who have run out of other treatment options may be advised to visit doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. In many cases, the Lyme disease test accuracy is affected by the result being inconclusive. Patients who test with inconclusive results may go in for Lyme disease treatment if they have run out of other treatment options. This method of treatment should only be done under the guidance of a specialist doctor.