Understanding Your Laboratory Test: What It Is, Why It Is Done, and What Your Results Mean
This blood test detects IgA antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, to help diagnose if you have been infected.
{"The test looks for IgA antibodies to Lyme disease bacteria in your blood","It helps diagnose Lyme disease, especially in early stages","Results are reported as positive, negative, or borderline","A positive result suggests current or past Lyme infection","The test requires a blood sample drawn from a vein"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 96428-8
- Short code
- BABPIA
- Synonyms
- B burgdor IgA Spec Ql
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST) or red-top vacutainer tube
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or immunofluorescence assay (IFA); positive results typically confirmed by Western blot
- CPT
- 86618
- SNOMED
- 395197001
- Specimen volume
- 1-2 mL serum (minimum 0.5 mL)
- Stability
- Serum stable for 7 days at 2-8°C; for extended storage, freeze at -20°C or below for up to 3 months. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 24–72 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test and why is it used?
The Borrelia burgdorferi IgA Antibody test is a blood test that detects IgA antibodies against the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. When your body is infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (transmitted through tick bites), your immune system produces specific antibodies to fight the infection. This test identifies whether these IgA antibodies are present in your blood.
Why is this test performed and what can it tell my healthcare provider about my health?
This test is primarily used to help diagnose Lyme disease. It is often ordered when a patient has symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease, such as the characteristic 'bull's-eye' rash (erythema migrans), fever, headache, fatigue, or joint pain, especially if they have been exposed to areas where ticks that carry Lyme disease are common.
How is this test performed and what should I expect during the procedure?
A healthcare professional will draw a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. The blood sample is then sent to a laboratory where it is analyzed for the presence of IgA antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi. You may experience slight pain or bruising at the puncture site, but serious complications are rare.
Understanding your results: Your test results help your healthcare provider learn more about your overall health. Reference ranges can vary between laboratories, and a value outside the normal range does not always mean something is wrong. Your provider will interpret your results together with your symptoms, medical history, and other test findings to decide whether any further evaluation or treatment is needed.
Results are typically reported as Positive, Negative, or Borderline. A positive or borderline result suggests that you may have been infected with Lyme disease bacteria. However, false positives can occur due to other conditions. A negative result does not completely rule out Lyme disease, especially if the infection is very recent, as antibodies may not have developed yet. Your healthcare provider will interpret your results in context with your symptoms and medical history.
Reference range
Negative (antibody not detected). Equivocal and positive results should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical findings, exposure history, and confirmatory Western blot testing.N/A
No fasting required. Patient should be informed that serologic testing for Lyme disease is most reliable when performed 2-4 weeks after suspected tick exposure, as IgM antibodies appear first followed by IgG and IgA antibodies.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
The IgA antibody test is part of the standard two-tiered testing approach for Lyme disease recommended by the CDC. While IgM antibodies typically appear first (in early infection), IgA antibodies may also be present and can help support the diagnosis. This test is particularly useful in detecting certain manifestations of Lyme disease. However, diagnosis should not be based on a single test result alone—clinical symptoms, exposure history, and other laboratory findings must be considered together. Early detection and treatment with antibiotics are generally effective in treating Lyme disease.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before this test?
How long does it take to get results?
Can this test tell me if I have an active infection?
What if my test is negative but I still have symptoms?
Is the test painful?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy