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Health guidanceUnited Kingdom with regional context

What does Lyme serology measure?

It detects the immune antibody response to Borrelia rather than directly counting live bacteria in the body.

Reviewed by VuxLore® Knowledge Team For Everyone

Short answer

It detects the immune antibody response to Borrelia rather than directly counting live bacteria in the body.

At a glance

It detects the immune antibody response to Borrelia rather than directly counting live bacteria in the body. Use validated pathways interpreted with symptoms, timing and exposure.

Key takeaways

• It detects the immune antibody response to Borrelia rather than directly counting live bacteria in the body.

• Use validated pathways interpreted with symptoms, timing and exposure.

• This article is educational and cannot diagnose, exclude or treat illness. Use NHS 111, a GP, emergency services or the corresponding local service according to symptom severity.

Direct answer

It detects the immune antibody response to Borrelia rather than directly counting live bacteria in the body.

Use it in context

Use validated pathways interpreted with symptoms, timing and exposure.

Practical next step

This article is educational and cannot diagnose, exclude or treat illness. Use NHS 111, a GP, emergency services or the corresponding local service according to symptom severity.

Sources and further reading

UK Lyme disease guidance and data

For current UK clinical advice, public-health guidance and surveillance data, consult these primary national sources.

  1. Lyme disease — NHS opens in a new tab
  2. Lyme disease: diagnosis and management (NG95) — NICE opens in a new tab
  3. Lyme disease: management and prevention — UKHSA opens in a new tab
  4. Lyme disease surveillance dashboard — UKHSA opens in a new tab
  5. Lyme disease — NHS Inform Scotland opens in a new tab