"Lyme literate doctors" suggest only the Western Blot. This is controversial. The Elisa may have a high false negative rate, and can be thrown off by autoimmune factors too. Then again, there may be a false positive problem with testing https://bcmj.org/bccdc/diagnostic-testing-lyme-disease-beware-false-positives

The Western Blot interpretation is also controversial but it is better than the Elisa and most docs will agree to do that first. The CDC interprets the Western Blot according to the number of "bands" and Lyme literate MD's (and others, generally functional and integrative docs) look at the bands that are specific to Lyme. In other words, if band 23, which is specific to Lyme, is the only band, some docs will say it is negative and some will say it is positive. Band 41 is often present and can be from Lyme but is not specific to that particular spirochetes but can be from other spirochetes.

Here is info on tests: https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-disease-test/ There is also a timing issue because if tested too early, there are no antibodies in the blood yet.

Unfortunately I have experience with testing. I tested negative. Then a doc put me on antibiotics anyway. Soon I was fully "CDC" positive. I was told that the meds "brought the antibodies out" but maybe it was just timing. I cannot explain this but only to say things with Lyme are not as neat as some will try to say.

Have any of you heard of the "Lyme wars"?!