IgM B. garinii
Optimal Result:
0 - 0.81 index.
Overview
The IgM B. garinii test detects early antibodies against Borrelia garinii, a key subspecies within the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex that causes Lyme disease. While B. burgdorferi sensu stricto is the primary agent in North America, B. garinii is most common in Europe and parts of Asia, where it is strongly associated with neurological forms of Lyme disease (neuroborreliosis).
The Role of IgM Antibodies
IgM is the first antibody class produced by the immune system during infection. In Lyme disease:
-
IgM antibodies typically appear 1–3 weeks after a tick bite
-
They peak in the first month of infection
-
Often decline as IgG antibodies develop
Detection of IgM antibodies specific to B. garinii suggests a recent immune response and supports early recognition of infection, particularly in neurological cases.
Clinical Significance of B. garinii
Borrelia garinii is notable for its neurotropism (tendency to affect the nervous system). Clinical associations include:
-
Lymphocytic meningitis (headache, neck stiffness, fever)
-
Cranial neuritis, particularly facial palsy
-
Radiculoneuritis (nerve pain, tingling, or weakness)
-
Cognitive or memory disturbances in disseminated infection
Although primarily linked with neuroborreliosis, B. garinii can occasionally present with joint or cardiac involvement. A positive IgM B. garinii result is therefore especially relevant in patients with neurological symptoms after tick exposure in endemic areas.
Limitations and Considerations
-
False positives can occur due to cross-reactivity
-
Timing matters: best interpreted within the first month
-
Beyond 6–8 weeks, isolated IgM without IgG is less reliable
-
Geography matters: highly relevant in Europe/Asia, less so in North America unless travel is involved
-
Confirmatory testing (IgG antibodies, Osp proteins, subspecies assays) improves accuracy
Broader Context in Lyme Testing
Different Borrelia subspecies drive different disease patterns:
-
B. afzelii → mainly skin involvement
-
B. burgdorferi sensu stricto → joint disease
-
B. garinii → neurological involvement
Including IgM B. garinii in European Lyme panels increases diagnostic precision by capturing the neurological spectrum of the disease.
Summary
The IgM B. garinii test identifies early antibody responses to a subspecies strongly linked to neurological Lyme disease in Europe and Asia. A positive result may reflect a recent or ongoing infection, especially in patients with neurological symptoms following tick exposure. Because cross-reactivity and false positives are possible, results should always be interpreted with clinical history, geography, and confirmatory Lyme testing.
Lab Results Explained and Tracked
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
Article Review & Sources
All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We're committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
