Cost and health insurance: Insurance plans can vary when it comes to testing and treatment for Lyme disease, with some companies being much more restrictive.Since some types of blood tests that might be drawn at the same time may require fasting beforehand, it’s worth checking with your healthcare provider. Food and drink: Generally speaking, there are no dietary restrictions before these tests.Those who need lumbar puncture will be asked to change into a gown. What to wear: Loose-fitting, comfortable clothes are fine for blood draws.Those getting lumbar puncture are prone on a bed, examination table, or operating table. Location: Samples of blood and CSF can be taken at a clinic or in the hospital.A lumbar puncture for CSF takes about 45 minutes for the procedure, then lying flat for an hour or two. Timing: A blood draw takes about five minutes.At this stage, the infection often has spread to the central nervous system, so CSF antibody or PCR tests can also help. Stage 3: The antibodies produced to fight off Lyme disease persist in the body long after infection, so two-tiered testing could still detect an advanced form of Lyme disease.An initial positive or inconclusive result (usually an ELISA test) will need to be repeated for confirmation (usually the Western blot test). At this point, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a two-stage testing process. Stage 2: During the “early disseminated” stage of Lyme disease, the infection has begun spreading to other bodily systems.Since it takes a couple of weeks for the body to develop antibodies, tests like ELISA are less likely to be accurate in this phase. Early stage: Within a month of exposure to Lyme disease, during its “localized” phase, testing isn’t generally necessary if Lyme-specific symptoms, such as the rash, are present.
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