Immune complex analysis in active lyme disease

Lyme disease (LD) is a growing infectious disease. Assays that can detect active infection early are needed to allow appropriate antibiotic therapy to begin when there is the best chance for a cure. The most frequently used assays are those based on antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi or its variants, the causative agent of LD. However, an antibody test at a single time point only measures exposure, not necessarily an active infection. In contrast, antibodies that are bound to a target antigen in a circulating immune complex form do indicate active infection. Here, we present data supporting the use of such assays in LD.