Hauser et al provided criteria for the diagnosis of Lyme's disease in Europe based on bands seen on Western blot testing. The authors are from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen in Munich, Germany.
Strains used in testing - both of the following:
(1) PK0 (Borrelia afzelii OspA serotype 2)
(2) PBi (Borrelia garinii OspA serotype 30)
Criteria for IgM testing - both of the following:
(1) >= 1 band from PK0: p39, OspC, p17, p41(strong)
(2) >= 1 band from PBi: p39, OspC, p41 (strong)
where:
• The criteria for PK0 reads: at least one for p39, OspC, and p17, OR strong p41. The wording for PBi was similar.
Criteria for IgG testing - both of the following:
(1) >= 2 band from PK0: p83/100, p58, p43, p39, p30, OspC, p21, p17, p14
(2) >= 1 band from PBi: p83/100, p39, p30, OspC, p21, p17b
The PK0 strain was recommended for serotesting in Europe since it provided the most sensitive testing.
