This test requires a blood draw, so please ensure you can refer to a phlebotomist in the clients area before you order this test.
Elispot looks at the T cell response and IGG/IGM looks at B cells/Antibodies.
Some people don't produce antibodies and have a more active T cell response.
In an ideal world to assess an infection, a practitioner should look at both sides of the immune system response, in other words, Eli-spot for the T cells/cellular response and IGG/IGM for humoral/B cell/antibody response.
To check for an active infection with the T cells, the Elispot is recommended.
Borrelia Elispot LTT (previously named Lyme Elispot LTT)
The Lyme Elispot-LTT is designed to detect cellular activity in relation to Borrelia burgdorferi in chronic and acute cases of Lyme disease. Borrelia infection leads to a proliferation of T-lymphocytes. T-cellular immune response stops as soon as Lyme disease is no longer active.
Checking whether a Lyme disease therapy has been successful is almost impossible, as Borrellia antibodies can be found in blood years after infection. The Elispot-LTT test for Borrelia closes this diagnostic gap, as it detects actual cellular activity in relation to Borrelia burgdorferi in chronic and also acute cases of Lyme disease. The Elispot-LTT test can detect 1 reactive T-cell per 100,000 lymphocytes. This is 20–200 times more sensitive than an ELISA Borrelia test.
LTT tests:
The LTT test reflects the actual, current Borrelia burgdorferi activity of chronic and also acute Lyme infections. The Elispot-LTT is highly sensitive and can detect even one single Borrelia-reactive T-cell in the blood. The Elispot-LTT is very helpful when monitoring a chronic or acute Lyme therapy, and should usually become negative about 6 to 8 weeks after completion of an effective therapy.
The Elispot-LTT test can be used to control the success of Lyme infection therapy. In general, the Elispot-LTT will be negative approx. 6 to 8 weeks after the end of a successful therapy.
Advantages of the Elispot-LTT for Borrelia test include:
- Increased stability - the use of cell stabilising CPDA-tubes means a stability of 3 days for the measured cells after taking the blood (cf. Heparin blood only 24 hours)
- Better reliability – when compared to tests using T-cell proliferation (e.g. ITT®)
The Elispot-LTT Test provides fast and reliable information for clinicians treating Lyme disease, enabling them to more easily and effectively extend a therapy or switch to a new treatment option.
Indications: | - Diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease - Diagnosis of acute Lyme disease - Treatment duration indicator - Post treatment success control |