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You can test for Lyme disease with at-home kits that detect specific antibodies. A doctor can also test you for Lyme disease.
- Best for quick turnaround: LetsGetChecked At-Home Lyme Disease Test | Skip to review
- Best for ease of use: Everlywell Lyme Disease Test | Skip to review
- Best for testing other tick-borne illnesses: IGeneX Tick-Borne Disease Testing | Skip to review
If you live near a highly wooded area lush with plants, you’ve likely heard of Lyme disease.
In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over
Keep reading to learn more about Lyme disease, plus how to get tested at home.
Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Black-legged or deer ticks carry the disease after feeding on infected deer, birds, or mice, and pass it to humans through a tick bite.
The
Most ticks that transmit the bacteria to humans are nymphs, which are immature ticks. According to the
Many people who develop Lyme disease don’t remember seeing or feeling a tick bite, as these insects can be smaller than a pinhead.
While adult ticks can also transmit the bacteria, they’re much larger and are often removed earlier. According to a
You may want to get tested for Lyme disease if you’re experiencing symptoms and you either:
- know a tick bit you
- recently spent time in an area where ticks are common
However, if you’re currently experiencing a bull’s-eye rash, it’s best to see a doctor rather than take an at-home test. That’s because the outlook for Lyme disease is best when treated early.
Additionally, if it’s been less than 6 weeks since you think you were bitten, it might not be helpful to take an at-home test. Doing so may result in a false negative.
A note about at-home testing
While at-home testing is convenient and discreet, it’s not necessarily a substitute for speaking with a doctor in person. At-home testing kits provide health information but without context. They don’t consider your medical history, and not all services connect users with qualified doctors to discuss results.
Additionally, you might not know what to test for or how to interpret your results, and some testing services don’t measure up to traditional doctor-ordered lab tests. That’s why it’s important to do your due diligence when shopping for these types of tests. It’s also a good idea to follow up with a doctor regarding your results.
When choosing at-home Lyme disease tests to feature, we looked at:
- affordability
- accuracy
- ease of directions
To select the best tests, we look at studies and user reviews.
We also included an option that is shipped to your home but still requires a trip to the lab. It may be a good option for people who don’t want to do a finger prick themselves.
You can use an HSA or FSA to purchase some of these at-home Lyme disease tests. In some instances, you may be able to use your insurance.
Some of these tests aren’t available in New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island. Check your state guidelines to see if you can get one shipped to you.
Most Lyme disease tests check for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies. IgM antibodies indicate you may be fighting off a current infection, while IgG antibodies indicate that your body has been exposed to a strain of Borrelia and has tried to fight it off in the past.
Other tests offer additional services such as DNA analysis that may help predict the nature of your body’s response to Lyme disease.
Use this chart to help determine which test is right for you.
| Test | Price | Collection method | Tests performed | Turnaround time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LetsGetChecked | $119 | blood sample | IgM and IgG antibodies | 2–5 days |
| Everlywell | $109 | blood sample | IgM and IgG antibodies | a few days |
| IGeneX | $20* | blood or urine sample | antibodies, DNA, T cells | 10 business days |
*Note that the $20 cost is for the kit only. Other costs including a doctor’s visit are not included.
Lyme disease is concentrated in certain areas because there are specific environmental conditions that help support it. According to
High-incidence states include:
- Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and other parts of New England
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
An at-home Lyme disease test will typically be a blood finger prick test.
If you have been exposed to the Borrelia bacteria that leads to Lyme disease, your body will have created one or two antibodies to fight it off. The test will look for the presence of both types of antibodies, known as immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG).
You will receive your test kit along with account information so that you can get your test results as soon as they’re ready. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly as they are described.
Each test has different instructions, so it’s important to read the kit’s detailed information before getting started.
Yes. If Lyme disease is treated soon after a tick bite, the outlook is great. Most cases of Lyme disease respond to a
If Lyme disease goes untreated, it can be more difficult to eliminate. For some, it can lead to inflammation of the joints, heart, and nervous system. The progression of the disease and its severity can vary from person to person. So, treatment even years later can make a difference.
Lyme disease is staged in categories: acute, early disseminated, and late disseminated. Later stages of Lyme disease may involve multiple systems in the body.
The most common symptom of Lyme disease is an erythema migrans, or bull’s-eye rash. The rash often appears
While a rash is the most common symptom of Lyme disease, it isn’t the only one.
Other symptoms of Lyme disease
- fatigue
- achy joints, particularly in one knee
- headache
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes
Lyme disease that remains unnoticed or untreated can go on to progress to disseminated Lyme disease. With disseminated Lyme disease, symptoms can also include neurologic conditions, such as cranial nerve palsy (particularly facial nerve palsy) and meningitis which mimics aseptic meningitis. Heart inflammation can also be a sign of Lyme disease.
It’s important to note that a positive result doesn’t mean you have a diagnosis of Lyme disease. The tests will show that antibodies are present in your blood, but a doctor will need to order another type of test before you get an official diagnosis.
“If someone gets a positive at-home test, definitely see your doctor,” said Puja Uppal, DO, a board-certified family medicine physician and the chief medical officer at Think Healthy.
A doctor will likely order both an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a Western blot test, which check for antibodies specific to Borrelia burgdorferi. They will consider the results of both these tests, along with your symptoms, to make an accurate diagnosis.
If you’re considering at-home testing, you might be wondering how it differs from getting an in-person test done by a healthcare professional.
With at-home testing, you’re responsible for collecting the sample. For Lyme testing, this will most likely be a blood sample. At-home testing kits come with instructions on how to collect a viable sample and provide you with the tools to do so.
You’ll also receive a mailer that allows you to ship the collected sample off to a lab for testing. You’ll receive your results, typically digitally, within a few business days.
Some at-home testing kit companies will connect you with a doctor who can explain your results and provide follow-up guidance. However, many companies will only provide this service if you test positive, leaving people with negative results and potentially lingering symptoms to wonder what to do next.
At-home testing services also don’t necessarily provide guidance on when to test for Lyme. Antibodies don’t necessarily develop right away. So if you’ve just been bitten by a Lyme-infected tick, your results will not be positive until several weeks later.
In-person tests for Lyme disease involve inserting a needle into a vein in the forearm to draw blood. Most of the time, doctors don’t draw blood right in their offices but will send you for testing at a nearby lab.
Before testing for Lyme disease, doctors will usually consider other possible diagnoses with similar symptoms. They’ll also ask you whether you’ve recently been exposed to infected ticks based on recent activities and places you’ve visited.
According to the
Most at-home testing companies don’t follow a two-step testing process. However, if the company connects you with a doctor, they may recommend additional testing if you test positive.
Early detection and treatment of Lyme are crucial. Most Lyme disease infections clear up with the help of a course of antibiotics you can take at home.
In some cases, however, people who are treated with antibiotics may continue to experience symptoms. When this happens, it’s called chronic Lyme disease or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.
Doctors may treat chronic Lyme disease with a continued course of antibiotics, but the treatment often also involves managing symptoms like pain and inflammation.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease and think you may have been bitten by a tick and were in an area where it is common, seek medical care as soon as possible. If certain symptoms and risk factors are present, doctors will typically treat for Lyme disease without waiting for a test result.
Is Lyme disease curable?
As mentioned above, most cases of Lyme disease respond to antibiotics. Lyme disease is best treated early. Sometimes, people with Lyme disease have symptoms months after they finish treatment, according to the
What if Lyme disease goes untreated?
If Lyme disease goes untreated, it can affect other systems in the body. It may cause symptoms like arthritis, inflammation, pain, stiffness, and more.
What do testing kits typically include?
Depending on the method of collection, testing kits may include:
- a device to collect the blood, urine, or saliva sample
- instructions
- a container to ship the sample back to the lab
- a shipping label
Some kits come with a bandage, wipes, and a biohazard bag. Kits may contain extras such as Styrofoam holders, labels, or tubes with varying solutions inside.
Are at-home Lyme disease tests reliable?
An at-home Lyme disease test that checks for antibodies may not be very accurate in detecting Lyme disease. For this reason, if an antibody test is positive, your doctor will likely order a second test called a Western blot or PCR test.
These tests can still take
Are Lyme disease tests covered by insurance?
Most insurance companies only pay for diagnostic testing when it’s ordered by a doctor or another healthcare professional. That being said, you can use tax-exempt HSA and FSA accounts to pay for an at-home Lyme disease test.
Does Medicare cover at-home Lyme disease tests?
Medicare doesn’t currently cover at-home Lyme disease tests.
How will pregnancy affect treatment for Lyme disease?
Early treatment of Lyme disease during pregnancy is important. That’s because if Lyme disease is untreated, it can affect the placenta. According to the
For pregnant people, treatment includes a round of antibiotics. Certain treatments for Lyme disease may not be used, as they can affect the fetus. If you suspect that you have Lyme disease, talk with a healthcare professional immediately.
Treating Lyme disease early on is important. Without treatment, Lyme disease can affect multiple systems in the body. With early treatment, Lyme disease responds well to a 2- to 4-week round of antibiotics.
It’s important to check for tick bites after hiking, camping, or spending any time in a wooded area. If you suspect a tick bite or have symptoms, seek medical attention right away for prompt assessment and treatment.
Steph Coelho is a freelance writer with chronic migraine who has a particular interest in health and wellness. When she’s not click-clacking away on her keyboard, she’s probably nose-deep in a good book.
Tracee Herbaugh is a writer and journalist who lives in the Boston area. She writes about culture, lifestyle, health, and family relationships. You can view her work online or find her on Twitter.
