Lyme disease - What is it?
Blood tests for Lyme are not done often enough. Every year 1 million people are bitten by a tick and of these, approximately 27,000 people develop Lyme disease. Every year, 1,000 to 2,500 people are left with long-term complaints after a tick bite. 1 in 5 ticks carry the bacteria. With a blood test for Lyme you can prevent the disease from becoming progressive, after all, it can cause neuroborreliosis.Lyme or borreliosis is a bacterial infection caused by an infected tick bite. When you walk in the woods, an infected tick can bite and transmit an infection. A tick infection causes a characteristic target lesion, but this is not always necessary. You can then remain without complaints for a while or develop non-specific vague complaints of fatigue and drowsiness. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the brain. We then call it neuroborreliosis.
The cause of Lyme disease is the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. This is most common in the Netherlands.
Symptoms for men: in 10% of cases without complaints, with complaints pain when urinating, burning sensation. In addition, the 'drip' is a well-known phenomenon a few days after infection. You will have a yellow-green pus-like discharge. This can be minor, but also severe.
Symptoms in women: 30-60% have no complaints. Complaints are often an increased amount of vaginal discharge. Intermittent blood loss, pain and burning during urination also occur. The most dangerous complication is pelvic inflammatory disease PID. This is a collective name for pelvic infections that ultimately result in infertility.
What do we determine for Lyme disease?
Borrelia IgG, Borrelia IgM antibodies
It is difficult to diagnose using Lyme blood tests. A blood test for Lyme is not always specific. The diagnosis is based on health complaints, medical history and your behavior (do you often walk in nature). The treatment then takes place with antibiotics. The sooner you start the treatment, the better it will work.The health complaints vary greatly from person to person. Joint complaints, fatigue, drowsiness, skin complaints, nerve complaints or heart complaints have been described.
You do not need to be fasting. The determination takes longer than 24 hours.
A Lyme blood test cannot show 100% conclusively that you have Lyme, but rather indicates a probability .
When to choose the Lyme blood test?
Choose the Lyme blood test for Borrelia antibodies when:- You see a discoloration on the skin from a tick bite that becomes larger. This can appear up to 3 months after a tick bite and looks like a target
- Your misunderstood complaints of muscle and joint pain develops in the first weeks after a tick bite
- You have joint complaints, skin complaints, nerve complaints or heart complaints after a tick bite.
When to test?
For the complaints described here, it is recommended to take the Lyme blood test 14 days after a tick bite. If you see a skin discoloration , you can assume that it is a tick bacteria. Please contact us to discuss the treatment options.How accurate is the Ziekte van Lyme blood test?
The accuracy of the test for Ziekte van Lyme is conducted through ISO-certified laboratories. The accuracy of a test method is expressed in terms of specificity and sensitivity. However, the most important aspect is that the results are interpreted and accepted among general practitioners and hospitals. This is the case with our venous samples. Mutual acceptance may not always be present due to potentially reduced reliability with a capillary sample.
How long does it take to receive the results of a Ziekte van Lyme blood test?
Most tests generally take 24-48 hours. Tests that go through an LC-MS method generally take longer, think about an average of 3-7 working days. Additionally, it also depends on the location. Some locations do the analysis themselves and others outsource it to another lab.
How do I interpret the results of a Ziekte van Lyme blood test?
Interpreting the results of Ziekte van Lyme is not always easy and should be seen in the broader picture, along with anamnesis and physical examination. In the doctor's advice section, the query in which you can already outline your complaints is taken into account, otherwise, the results are interpreted in conjunction with the other results. If necessary, the doctor can call to ask about physical abnormalities. You don't have to interpret the results yourself because there is always advice and explanation from the doctor.
What should I do if my results from a Ziekte van Lyme blood test are abnormal?
If the results of the test for Ziekte van Lyme are clinically significantly abnormal, the doctor will contact you by phone. If you are not reachable, you will receive an email. This includes advice and an explanation of the abnormal results and what you can do about them. If you need a prescription or referral, we can help with that.
How much does a Ziekte van Lyme blood test cost? Is it covered by insurance?
The costs of Ziekte van Lyme can be found on the product page. Depending on your insurance and additional packages, you may be reimbursed for these costs for Ziekte van Lyme. For example, tests for IVF treatment are often reimbursed. After your order, you will receive an invoice that you can submit to your insurance.
How can I order a Ziekte van Lyme blood test?
The ordering process is easy. You can add a Ziekte van Lyme test or the tests you want to your shopping cart. In step two, you fill in your details and pay. Then you will receive an email confirmation and you can go to a collection location. After you have been there, you will receive the results of the Ziekte van Lyme test in your Portal.
Is my data safe when I get a Ziekte van Lyme blood test?
We are certified-ready according to the NEN 7510 and 7512 standards for secure data transfer in healthcare. The Portal is secured with two-factor authentication. Your data is also encrypted. We do not send the results of Ziekte van Lyme to third parties without permission, not even to your general practitioner without your consent.
Do I need to visit a clinic for a Ziekte van Lyme blood test, or can it be done remotely?
The blood test for Ziekte van Lyme must take place at one of the collection locations we provide. At certain locations, it is possible for a phlebotomist to come to you. You can indicate this during checkout. An appointment will then be made as soon as possible to come to your home.
How do I book an appointment for Ziekte van Lyme blood test?
You can easily make an appointment for Ziekte van Lyme blood test after your order in your Portal. You can visit almost daily in all major cities in the Netherlands. In smaller cities, you can visit on certain days. At certain locations, it is also possible to visit on weekends.
Is a doctor's interpretation included in a Ziekte van Lyme blood test?
An interpretation by a doctor or an explanation is included in the Ziekte van Lyme test. The explanation takes into account the query that you can specify in your Portal after ordering.
How does a Ziekte van Lyme blood test differ from over-the-counter tests?
For blood tests, we always use venous sampling. This is the gold standard for blood collection. Over-the-counter tests, such as a finger prick test, use the capillary route for blood collection. These do not always give the same results and the accuracy depends on how, where, and with which technique the collection is done. The advantage, of course, is that the test is easier and less painful to take.
What payment options are available for a Ziekte van Lyme blood test?
You can always pay with iDeal and credit card (VISA, Mastercard, and Amex). This also includes Apple Pay. The phlebotomists at the collection location cannot accept cash payments.
Are the results of a Ziekte van Lyme blood test shareable with my doctor?
The results of Labplusarts can be shared with your general practitioner at your request. However, you can also easily arrange this yourself by downloading the result in PDF format. Because we use comparable test methods as the general practitioner, the results are interchangeable and comparable so that comparisons can be made well.
