Lyme carditis is a rare but serious heart complication that occurs when Lyme disease spreads to the heart tissue. It is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria transmitted through infected tick bites, leading to inflammation of the heart that can cause heart block, irregular heartbeats, chest pain, and shortness of breath. The Lyme Disease Antibody with Reflex to Antibodies IGG & IGM Blot is the most important test for diagnosis because it detects antibodies to the Lyme bacteria and confirms the underlying infection.
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Lyme carditis is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that enter your bloodstream through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick (also called a deer tick). After the bacteria spreads through your body, it can reach your heart tissue and cause inflammation that disrupts the electrical signals controlling your heartbeat. This typically happens during the early disseminated stage of Lyme disease, usually within weeks to months after the initial tick bite, and affects about 1% of people with untreated Lyme disease.
The Lyme Disease Antibody with Reflex to Antibodies IGG & IGM Blot is the most important test for Lyme carditis because it detects antibodies your body produces in response to Borrelia burgdorferi infection. This two-tier testing approach first screens for Lyme antibodies, then automatically performs more specific IGG and IGM antibody testing if the initial screen is positive, providing confirmation of active or recent Lyme disease infection. Since Lyme carditis is caused by the underlying Lyme infection, identifying these antibodies is essential for proper diagnosis and guides treatment with antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria affecting your heart tissue.
You should get tested if you develop heart symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, fainting, or dizziness, especially if you remember a tick bite or noticed a bullseye rash in the weeks or months before your symptoms started. Testing is also important if you live in or recently visited areas where Lyme disease is common (northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central United States) and develop unexplained heart block or irregular heartbeats. Early detection through blood testing can prevent serious cardiac complications and guide timely antibiotic treatment.
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What this means
Your test came back negative, meaning no Lyme disease antibodies were detected in your blood. This is the expected and healthy result, suggesting you have not been infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Recommended actions
Continue taking preventive measures when outdoors: wear long sleeves, use tick repellent, and do thorough tick checks after hiking
If symptoms persist despite a negative result, consult your doctor as antibodies can take 4-6 weeks to develop after infection
Remove ticks promptly if found, as infection risk increases the longer a tick remains attached
Consider retesting in 4-6 weeks if you had recent tick exposure and continue experiencing suspicious symptoms
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