Section 3.3
Infectious Diseases

Clinical response may not be apparent upon initial infection; IgM antibody may not be detected until 3–6 weeks after the infection Laboratory tests may be designed to detect whole Borrelia burgdorferi, not flagellar antigen found early in infection Most laboratory tests are technically demanding and lack specificity Antibodies formed initially to B. burgdorferi may cross react in antigen tests for autoimmune diseases