SIMPLIFIED METHOD FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF IMMUNOBLOTS FOR LYME BORRELIOSIS

Interpretation of immunoblot results for Lyme borreliosis remains an a rea of controversy. This study was undertaken to devise a simple metho d which incorporated distinctions between specific and non-specific ba nds. A numerical value was assigned to bands reflecting their relative importance. This scheme was evaluated with sera from 61 forestry work ers, which were previously tested by immunoblotting and interpreted su bjectively. These results were reported as five separate categories re presenting levels of reactivity. A total of 72% (44) of sera fell into the same categories as they were originally reported. The method was also assessed with 40 sera routinely submitted for Lyme borreliosis se rology. These were interpreted by two members of staff without previou s experience of immunoblotting. Their results gave 80% and 72.5% agree ment with those of an experienced person used to reading immunoblots f or Lyme borreliosis.