Most Accurate Lyme Disease Test? New LymeSeek Blood Test May Improve Early Diagnosis
Current Lyme testing often misses early disease.
A new test called LymeSeek may improve detection accuracy.
Researchers are evaluating whether it can identify Lyme disease earlier and more reliably.
Lyme disease is one of the few infections where patients are often diagnosed too late—not because they waited, but because testing could not detect the infection until later stages, if at all.
A new Lyme blood test called LymeSeek could represent an important advance in Lyme diagnostics, particularly for early disease detection where current testing often falls short.
Holly Ahern, MS, MT, Chief Scientific Officer at Aces Diagnostics, discusses LymeSeek. For more information, visit acesdiagnostics.com/lymeseek.
According to data presented at the 2025 Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine meeting, LymeSeek demonstrated over 90% sensitivity and specificity in detecting Lyme disease across multiple stages of illness.
That’s a significant improvement over standard two-tier testing, which often misses early cases when treatment matters most.
Reliable testing is particularly important since many patients never develop the classic bull’s-eye rash that clinicians often rely upon when making the diagnosis.
What Is the Most Accurate Test for Lyme Disease?
Many patients ask which test is the most accurate for Lyme disease.
Currently, the CDC recommends two-tier serologic testing using an ELISA followed by immunoblot testing. However, these tests depend on antibody production and may miss infections early in the course of illness.
Preliminary data suggest that the LymeSeek Lyme blood test may offer improved sensitivity and specificity, particularly in early disease. However, additional validation and regulatory review are still needed.
For a broader discussion, see Lyme disease test accuracy.
Why Current Lyme Testing Often Fails
Current Lyme disease tests miss many infections—especially early ones—mainly because of how they work and what they’re looking for.
They don’t detect the bacteria itself.
Most current tests look for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi. Because antibodies may take days to weeks to develop, false-negative results are common during the first several weeks of infection.
The two-tier testing system was not designed primarily for early diagnosis.
Patients are initially given an ELISA test. If positive or equivocal, they then undergo Western blot testing. A negative result may lead patients to believe Lyme disease has been ruled out even when clinical suspicion remains high.
Borrelia‘s biology complicates testing.
The organism changes the proteins it expresses during different phases of infection and may evade immune detection, delaying antibody production.
Strain and species variation may affect testing.
Most U.S. assays focus on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Other species may not express identical antigens.
Current tests cannot distinguish active infection from prior exposure.
Antibodies may remain detectable long after treatment, making interpretation difficult in some cases.
Can a Blood Test Detect Lyme Disease Early?
Early diagnosis remains one of the greatest challenges in Lyme disease.
Standard antibody tests often perform poorly during the first weeks after infection because the immune response is still developing.
In the reported study population, LymeSeek detected 100% of early Lyme cases occurring within 72 hours of erythema migrans onset compared with approximately 37% using standard testing.
If confirmed in larger studies, earlier detection could allow patients to begin treatment before complications develop.
What Makes the LymeSeek Lyme Blood Test Different?
The new Lyme blood test uses a multiplexed antigen platform that evaluates multiple immune responses simultaneously. A machine-learning algorithm then analyzes the pattern.
This approach aims to improve both sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional testing.
Investigators reported that LymeSeek identified approximately 97% of post-treatment Lyme disease cases occurring six months or more after infection, compared with 46% using standard testing.
These findings suggest that newer diagnostic approaches may help address some limitations of existing tests.
Can Lyme Disease Be Tested Years Later?
Patients frequently ask whether Lyme disease can still be detected months or years after infection.
Antibodies may remain positive long after treatment, making interpretation challenging. Current tests cannot reliably distinguish between active infection and previous exposure.
Researchers continue to investigate whether newer technologies may provide more clinically useful information in patients with longstanding symptoms.
Learn more about understanding Lyme disease test accuracy.
Will the LymeSeek Test Change Lyme Disease Care?
Possibly—but important questions remain.
This new Lyme blood test may eventually help:
- Identify Lyme disease earlier in infection
- Support diagnosis when no rash is present
- Improve confidence in clinically challenging cases
- Address some limitations of current testing approaches
Is the LymeSeek Blood Test Available Now?
No. LymeSeek is not yet FDA-approved or commercially available for routine patient testing.
ACES Diagnostics is currently working with the FDA on clinical trial pathways.
The test has received De Novo classification, meaning it is being evaluated as a novel diagnostic platform.
Independent validation and broader clinical experience will be important before determining its ultimate role in Lyme disease diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most accurate test for Lyme disease?
Current CDC-recommended testing relies on antibody detection. Preliminary studies suggest that LymeSeek may improve diagnostic accuracy, but further validation is required.
Can a blood test detect Lyme disease early?
Early Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose because antibodies may not yet be detectable. Newer approaches such as LymeSeek are being evaluated for earlier detection.
Is LymeSeek available for patients now?
No. The LymeSeek Lyme blood test is not yet FDA-approved or commercially available.
How does LymeSeek differ from standard Lyme tests?
LymeSeek combines multiplex immune-response analysis with machine learning rather than relying solely on conventional antibody testing.
Can Lyme disease be tested years later?
Testing years later can be challenging because antibodies may remain positive long after treatment. Researchers are exploring newer diagnostic methods to address these limitations.
Clinical Takeaway
LymeSeek will not solve every challenge associated with Lyme disease diagnosis.
However, preliminary findings suggest that newer diagnostic approaches may improve early detection and address some limitations of conventional two-tier testing.
For patients who never develop a rash or who test negative despite compatible symptoms, advances in diagnostics may eventually provide earlier answers and greater diagnostic confidence.
Related Articles
Lyme Disease Test Accuracy
How to Test for Lyme Disease: Why Standard Tests Can Miss It
Don’t Wait for a Positive Lyme Disease Test
Western Blot vs Modified Two-Tier Testing in Lyme Disease
Babesia Negative Tests: Why Treatment May Still Be Needed
References
- Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine. 2025 Academy Distinguished Abstracts Winners. Accessed 2025.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Testing and Diagnosis for Lyme Disease. Accessed 2025.
- Inside Precision Medicine. Blood Test for Lyme Disease Achieves Over 90% Diagnostic Accuracy. Accessed 2025.
- ACES Diagnostics. LymeSeek – Advanced Lyme Disease Diagnostic. Accessed 2025.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
