title: False Positive Lyme Disease IgM Immunoblots in Children.
abstract: In our cross-sectional sample of 7289 serologic tests for Lyme disease, we identified 167 instances of a positive IgM immunoblot but a negative IgG immunoblot test result. Considering that only 71% (95% CI 64%-78%) of patients had Lyme disease, a positive IgM immunoblot alone should be interpreted with caution to avoid over-diagnosis of Lyme disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine and Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lantos
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lipsett
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. Electronic address: Lise.nigrovic@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Lise E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nigrovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Lyme disease; diagnostic tests; immunoblots; pediatrics