Lyme Disease Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask you about past health problems and do a physical exam to help diagnose early Lyme disease. You may be asked if you have recently visited an area where you may have been exposed to ticks. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and look for physical signs of Lyme disease. The clearest sign is a growing, round, red rash (called erythema migrans). If you have this rash and have been in an area where Lyme disease is found, you'll probably be treated.

Your doctor may confirm a diagnosis of Lyme disease with a blood test. These tests can find antibodies to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The decision about when to use blood tests for Lyme disease depends on whether your doctor strongly thinks you have Lyme disease and whether the test results will change the course of your treatment.

Other tests, such as a skin biopsy, may be done to confirm a diagnosis.

Lyme disease is often hard to diagnose.