Epstein-barr virus and cytomegalovirus infections cause false-positive results in IgM two-test protocol for early lyme borreliosis

High frequency of false positive IgM immunoblots for Borrelia burgdorferi in Clinical Practice

“…The false positive IgM immunoblot results observed in this study were probably related to over‐reading of weak bands for the most part (Figure 1), as has been suggested by others [5–7]. Other infectious agents known to cause polyclonal B cell stimulation resulting in false positive IgM immunoblots for Lyme disease, such as Epstein‐Barr virus [12], were not diagnosed for this patient cohort. To improve the accuracy of serologic testing for Lyme disease it has been recommended that testing be limited to those with at least a 20% pretest probability of Lyme disease [13] and for IgM immunoblot testing, in particular, restricting the testing to patients with symptoms and signs of recent onset [4].…”

The Presence of Anti-Ebv Antibodies as the Cause of False Positive Results in the Diagnostics of Lyme Borreliosis

“…burgdorferi antibodies in the IgM class. A positive result in the ELISA method was obtained in 53% of samples, whereas in the WB test in 35% of samples positive result for the OspC or the p39 antigen was obtained [13]. In own research involving two patients, who in the Wb test revealed positive results for IgM anti-B.…”

“…burgdorferi antibodies to the OspC and the p41 antigens were present in both ELISA and Wb tests [14]. In the research discussed above Goossens et al mentiones 21% of patients with acute Cytomegalovirus infection, who revealed the presence of antibodies to the OspC and the p39 B. burgdorferi antigens [13].…”

False-Positive Serological Test Results for Lyme Disease in a Patient with Acute Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection

“…Sir-False-positive results of serological tests for Lyme disease have been reported in cases of recent primary infection with varicella-zoster virus [1,2], Epstein-Barr virus [3,4], and cytomegalovirus [3]. We report the first association of false-positive results of serological testing for Lyme dis-ease with infection due to another of the herpesviruses, herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2.…”