Who it is for
Is this Lyme disease test right for you?
Ticks in woods and long grass can carry Borrelia, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Untreated, it can affect the skin, the joints and the nervous system. A Lyme disease test at home looks for the first antibodies your body makes against it. Use it:
- 2 to 6 weeks after a tick bite
- As soon as a round red patch appears where you may have been bitten
- If the patch comes with fever
- After time in woods or long grass, when you found a tick late
What to know about tick bites. The right moment to test is 2 to 6 weeks after the bite; the timing is explained below.
- Woods and undergrowthTicks live in undergrowth and forests
- Arms and legsTicks bite skin that is not protected by clothing
- A round red patchIt can appear 3 to 10 days, or several weeks, after a bite, sometimes with fever
- Why it mattersThe bacterium can affect the nervous system, the skin and the joints
Timing
When to test for Lyme disease: 2 to 6 weeks after the tick bite
Timing matters for this test. After a tick bite the body needs time to make IgM antibodies against Borrelia. A test done too early can be negative even when an infection is present.
2–6
weeks
after the tick bite is the time to test
Tick bite
Test from 2 to 6 weeks
First 2 weeks: too early. No detectable antibodies yet.
From 2 to 6 weeks: test. IgM antibodies are present in 40–60 % of infected people at 2 to 4 weeks, and in 70–90 % 4 to 6 weeks later.
Negative, but tested early? Repeat the test 2 to 6 weeks later to be sure.
A round red patch at the bite? Do not wait. Test as soon as it appears, and see a doctor.
What it measures
What this Lyme disease test tells you, and what it does not
It tells you
- Whether your blood contains IgM antibodies against Borrelia
- IgM is the first class of antibody the body makes, so a positive result points to a recent infection
- From a fingertip blood sample, in ten minutes, at home
It does not tell you
- Anything in the first two weeks after the bite. The antibodies are not there yet
- That you are clear after one negative result. In the first 2–4 weeks only 40–60 % of infected people have antibodies; repeat the test 2 to 6 weeks later
- The stage of the disease
- Anything reliable after preventive antibiotics (antibodies may not be detectable), or with cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex, syphilis, leptospirosis, mononucleosis or an autoimmune disease, which can give a false positive
Contents
What is in the box
- 1 × test device in a sealed foil pouch
- 1 × dropper bottle of diluent 1 mL
- 2 × plastic capillary pipettes one is a spare
- 2 × sterile lancets one is a spare
- 1 × alcohol pad
- 1 × instructions for use in seven languages
- 1 × desiccant bag discard it, do not use it
Everything you need is in the box except a timer. Keep the foil pouch sealed until you test.
How it works
Five steps, about fifteen minutes
01
Prepare the lancet
Very important: do not touch the trigger. Twist the grey protective cap off, never pull it. Keep turning until it comes away.
02
Take a blood sample from your fingertip
Very important: use the pipette correctly — lightly touch the drop of blood with the pipette’s tip, not the skin, do not squeeze the bulb, fill to the line.
03
Put the blood into the sample well
Press the pipette bulb to release the blood into the sample well. Then wait 30 to 40 seconds until it is absorbed.
04
Add exactly 4 drops of diluent
Very important: add the diluent only after the 30 to 40 seconds. Hold the vial upright and add exactly four drops, 2–3 seconds apart.
05
Read the result after 10 minutes
Not after 15. Set a timer.
Instructions for useWatch the video demonstration
On the clock: the ten minutes, step by step
- Drop in
Blood from the pipette into the sample well.
- Wait, then diluent
Not before 30–40 seconds. Then exactly four drops, 2–3 seconds apart.
- Colour moves
Lines begin to form. Not readable yet.
- Read
Read the result now, in good light.
- Stop
Do not interpret the result after 15 minutes.
Your result
How to read your Lyme disease test result
Two lines means IgM antibodies against Borrelia were found. One line means they were not. A negative result taken early must be repeated. The pictures below show each result.
Antibodies found positive
Both C and T lines are visible. IgM antibodies against Borrelia are present, which points to a recent infection. See your doctor without delay.
None detected negative
Only the C line is visible. No IgM antibodies were detected. Repeat the test 2 to 6 weeks later.
Invalid repeat
No C line. The result cannot be read. This happens most often when the diluent is added before the blood has been absorbed. Repeat with a new test and a fresh blood sample, and wait the full 30 to 40 seconds before you add the diluent.
A faint T line still counts as a line — the colour and intensity of the lines do not matter, only that they are homogeneous and complete. Read at 10 minutes; do not interpret the result after 15. The pictures are for illustration purposes; the actual lines may differ in intensity.
Next step
What to do with your result
If antibodies were found
See your doctor promptly and show the result. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, and early treatment prevents the later complications. A positive result can also come from an infection years ago or after a completed treatment; your doctor will judge that.
If none were detected
Do not take one negative as final. Test again 2 to 6 weeks later. If a red patch, with or without fever, persists, see your doctor whatever the test says.
The technology
What happens inside the test device
All of it happens on a paper strip inside the test device, in ten minutes.
- The sample moves
The drop of blood and the diluent travel along the strip by capillary action. No pump, no power.
- Your antibodies
After an infection, the immune system first makes IgM antibodies against Borrelia. The test looks for these antibodies.
- The T line
Borrelia antigens are fixed at T. They catch only the antibodies directed against Borrelia. When those are present, a coloured line appears. When they are not, none.
- The C line
The C line captures the excess reagent. A line at C means the test worked. No C line, no result.
This test has been used by professionals in hospitals and laboratories for more than 10 years. It gives one answer — detected or not detected — not a number.
Quality
Made in France, checked batch by batch
30+
years of diagnostic expertise — rapid tests made in France since 1991
- ISO 13485The international quality-management standard for organisations that design, manufacture and service medical devices
- Every batch checkedDefined checks completed before a batch is released
- Monitored after releasePerformance tracked for as long as the batch is on the market
Notified body 0483ISO 13485Made in FranceCE-marked IVD
The Patris Health promise. No valid result? Write to us and we replace the test or refund the purchase price. It applies whenever the test was performed as the instructions describe, and we do not argue about it.
Specification
Technical data for the Lyme disease test
| Intended use | Qualitative immunochromatographic screening test for anti-Borrelia IgM antibodies in capillary whole blood, for self-testing by lay users |
|---|---|
| Analyte | IgM antibodies against Borrelia (European strains including B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto) |
| Method | Lateral flow immunoassay |
| Result type | Qualitative — antibodies detected or not detected |
| Sample | Capillary whole blood from a fingertip, pipette filled to the line |
| Time to result | Read at 10 minutes; do not interpret after 15 minutes |
| Agreement | 89.19 % overall agreement with reference methods (95 % CI 81.14–94.46 %) |
| Storage | 4 to 30 °C, do not freeze |
| Expiry date | Indicated on the label and the foil pouch |
| Device type | CE-marked in-vitro diagnostic medical device (IVD) for self-testing |
| Certificates | CE 0483 · ISO 13485 |
Questions
Asked before ordering
How accurate is a Lyme disease test at home compared with the laboratory?+
In the evaluation studies, the test agreed with laboratory reference methods in 89.19 % of cases (95 % CI 81.14–94.46 %). The limit is the infection itself, not the strip: in the first 2 to 4 weeks only 40–60 % of infected people have made IgM antibodies, so any antibody test, at home or in the laboratory, can be negative that early. That is why the test is used 2 to 6 weeks after the bite and a negative is repeated.
Does the finger prick hurt?+
It is a brief prick. Wash your hands with warm water first, massage the finger towards the tip for 10 to 15 seconds, and prick the side of the fingertip. The needle retracts into the lancet straight away.
How soon after a tick bite can I test?+
From 2 weeks after the bite, and best between 2 and 6 weeks. Earlier, the body has not yet made detectable antibodies. If a round red patch appears, test straight away and see your doctor.
My result is negative. Am I clear?+
Not yet. Repeat the test 2 to 6 weeks later. If you took antibiotics as a precaution after the bite, antibodies may not be detectable; tell your doctor.
I had Lyme disease years ago. Will the test be positive?+
It can be. Antibodies persist in some people for years, and a positive result can also follow a successful antibiotic treatment.
What if I cannot get enough blood?+
Massage the finger gently from its base towards the tip, with a light squeeze-and-release motion, until a large drop forms. Then fill the pipette to the line. Every kit has a spare lancet and pipette for a second attempt.
The lancet did nothing when I pressed it+
A lancet works only once. If the grey protective cap was pulled off by force instead of twisted, the lancet may already have been triggered. Take the spare lancet, give the cap a quarter turn, keep turning until it comes away, then press the lancet firmly against the side of the fingertip and press the trigger button.
Why did I get an invalid result?+
The most common causes are an incorrect amount of blood, adding the diluent before the blood was absorbed, or a test device that was exposed to moisture before use. A test device can be used only once, so repeat with a new test: fill the pipette to the line, wait 30 to 40 seconds, then add four drops. Write to us and we replace the test.
How do I dispose of the lancet?+
The needle retracts into the lancet body after use, so all components can go in household waste. If your pharmacy collects sharps separately, use that; it is the tidier option.
Sources
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (2016, March 6). Factsheet about borreliosis. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/borreliosis/facts/factsheet
John, T. M., & Taege, A. J. (2019). Appropriate laboratory testing in Lyme disease. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 86(11), 751–759. https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.86a.19029
National Health Service. (2025, June 3). Lyme disease. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Testing and diagnosis for Lyme disease. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/diagnosis-testing/index.html
Last reviewed 2 October 2026
Instructions for use
Patris Health Lyme Disease Home Test
Detection of anti-Borrelia IgM antibodies in whole blood. CE-marked in-vitro diagnostic medical device for self-testing.
This is the English part of the multi-language instructions for use. The printed instructions in the box carry the same text in seven languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Slovenian. If the version printed on the instructions in your box differs from this one, follow the instructions in your box.
Precautions and test components
Read this before you start: safety, storage and what is in the kit.
Testing procedure
Step by step, with a picture for each step.
Interpretation of the results
How to read your result, with pictures.
About the test
Background, questions and answers, accuracy.
Questions about the test: help@patris-health.com
Instructions for use LYMEV01, March 2026 · © Patris Health. Copying and reproduction are not permitted.
