Which tests measure Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot?

Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot is measured in 1 test on BiomarkersLabs.com, including B. burgdorferi IgG, IgM by Western Blot.

Biomarker Reference · Bb IgM WB

What does the Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot test measure?

Q: What is the reference range for Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot?

The standard reference range for Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot is ≥2 of 3 bands (CDC criteria: 23, 39, 41 kDa) for positive; laboratories may report additional bands for clinical context.. Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform — interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.

Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot (Bb IgM WB) is a clinical biomarker used in lyme-tick-borne assessment. IgM antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi surface antigens rise within weeks of infection and typically wane by three to six months, though they can persist. It is measured in 1 laboratory test on BiomarkersLabs.com.

Reference Range: ≥2 of 3 bands (CDC criteria: 23, 39, 41 kDa) for positive; laboratories may report additional bands for clinical context.
Units: Qualitative band pattern
Measured In: 1 test
Category: —

Functional medicine optimalNot applicable; this is a qualitative serological test. Reactivity is interpreted against validated band criteria and symptom duration, not a continuous scale.

What is Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot?

IgM antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi surface antigens rise within weeks of infection and typically wane by three to six months, though they can persist. The IgM Western blot identifies early adaptive humoral responses to a narrow set of immunodominant proteins, primarily the 41-kDa flagellin, 39-kDa BmpA, and 23-kDa OspC. Because IgM responses can cross-react with other spirochaetes and because isolated IgM positivity is common in false-positive results, IgM Western blot is interpreted only in the context of early disease (symptom onset within 30 days) and never used for late or chronic presentations.

Why is Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot measured?

IgM Western blot confirms early Lyme disease when the first-tier assay is reactive and symptoms are recent. It should not be ordered in isolation or in patients with prolonged symptoms, because late false-positive IgM is common and clinically misleading. The 41-kDa band is highly sensitive but non-specific, appearing in other spirochaetal infections and sometimes in healthy controls, so a positive IgM blot requires two of the three CDC bands and appropriate clinical context.

Reference ranges

Standard reference: ≥2 of 3 bands (CDC criteria: 23, 39, 41 kDa) for positive; laboratories may report additional bands for clinical context.
Functional medicine optimal: Not applicable; this is a qualitative serological test. Reactivity is interpreted against validated band criteria and symptom duration, not a continuous scale.
Units: Qualitative band pattern

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.

Tests that measure Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot

1 test on BiomarkersLabs.com include this biomarker.

BML-LYM-003Comprehensive

B. burgdorferi IgG, IgM by Western Blot

Borrelia burgdorferi IgM by Western Blot reference range in this test: ≥2 of 3 bands (CDC criteria: 23, 39, 41 kDa) for positive; laboratories may report additional bands for clinical context.

Related clinical conditions

Related Biomarkers

Frequently measured alongside

Borrelia burgdorferi IgG by Western BlotBb IgG WB1 test

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