More specific bands in the IgG western blot in sera from Scottish patients with suspected Lyme borreliosis

Abstract

AimsTo identify further Western blot bands that may be specific in the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.MethodsThe Borrelia burgdorferi antibody profiles of 270 western blot positive patients and 241 western blot negative patients from 2008 were examined.Results27 different non-specific bands were detected in both groups. Six of 27 (22%) of the non-specific bands were detected significantly more in the western blot positive patients compared to the western blot negative patients (20 kDa, p<0.0001; 28 kDa, p<0.002; 36 kDa, p<0.002; 37 kDa, p<0.007; 48 kDa, p<0.023; 56 kDa, p<0.028; two-tailed F test).ConclusionResults suggest that the 20, 28 and 48 kDa bands should be regarded as specific.