The ELISA is the screening tool used by most doctors. The problem with the ELISA, is that is it highly unreliable. According to ILADS, "The test misses 35% of culture proven Lyme disease (only 65% sensitivity) and is unacceptable as the first step of a two-step screening protocol. By definition, a screening test should have at least 95% sensitivity." http://www.ilads.org/basic.html
The Western Blot according to ILADS: "Of patients with acute culture-proven Lyme disease, 20–30% remain seronegative on serial Western Blot sampling. Antibody titers also appear to decline over time; thus while the Western Blot may remain positive for months, it may not always be sensitive enough to detect chronic infection with the Lyme spirochete. For “epidemiological purposes” the CDC eliminated from the Western Blot analysis the reading of bands 31 and 34. These bands are so specific to Borrelia burgdorferi that they were chosen for vaccine development. Since a vaccine for Lyme disease is currently unavailable, however, a positive 31 or 34 band is highly indicative of Borrelia burgdorferi exposure. Yet these bands are not reported in commercial Lyme tests." http://www.ilads.org/basic.html
Lyme Testing: The Problems Rarely Appreciated
The CD-57 Blood test (a possible) inexpensive LD screening test
Everything You Always Wanted to know About the CD57 Test
Testing is highly inaccurate:
