Is a Lyme Disease Serology with Reflex worth it?
What it costs, whether to test at home or at Quest, and how to read your results - reviewed and updated July 2026.
The short answer
Worth it when the timing is right. This is the CDC-standard two-tier Lyme test (an antibody screen that automatically reflexes to a confirmatory Western blot), which is the correct way to test - but antibodies take 4-6 weeks to build, so testing too soon after a bite gives a false negative.
Who should order it (and who can wait)
Worth it if you...
- •A known or suspected tick bite 4-6+ weeks ago, especially in a Lyme-endemic area
- •Lingering fatigue, joint pain, or neurological symptoms after possible tick exposure
- •Confirming or ruling out Lyme when the classic bull's-eye rash was never seen
- •Following up an earlier negative test once enough time has passed for antibodies to develop
You can probably wait if you...
- •You have a classic expanding bull's-eye (erythema migrans) rash now - that alone justifies treatment, and testing this early is often falsely negative; see a provider promptly
- •The bite was only a few days ago - wait until at least 4 weeks have passed so antibodies have time to form
We would rather you order the right test than the most expensive one.
At-home vs Quest vs Labcorp
The most common question we get. The short version: the lab and the result are the same - you are choosing where the blood is drawn.
Walk into a lab
Get drawn at any Quest location - thousands nationwide, often same-day. Best for speed and lowest cost.
At-home draw
A mobile phlebotomist comes to you, where available. Same venous sample, drawn at your kitchen table.
Same result
Whichever you pick, it is run on the same CLIA-certified analyzers with the same reference ranges.
This is a venous blood draw at Quest or Labcorp (billed under CPT 94322 for the two-tier reflex), or an at-home mobile draw where available - no fasting required. The reflex design means you pay for one order and, if the initial antibody screen is reactive, the confirmatory Western blot runs automatically on the same sample. TestWell's price is $40.99 versus roughly $65 at Quest Direct.
How to read your results
The markers that matter most and what an out-of-range value can mean. Reference ranges vary by lab, age, and sex.
| Marker | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Lyme antibody screen (EIA/ELISA) | Non-reactive = negative | A non-reactive screen 4-6+ weeks after exposure makes Lyme unlikely. A reactive or equivocal screen automatically triggers the confirmatory Western blot - a single reactive screen is not a diagnosis on its own. |
| Western blot IgM (reflex) | Reported if screen reactive | IgM turns positive earlier in infection; it is most meaningful in the first ~4-6 weeks and can be a false positive later, so it is interpreted with timing in mind. |
| Western blot IgG (reflex) | Reported if screen reactive | IgG develops later and is the more reliable confirmation for infections older than 4-6 weeks. A positive screen plus a positive IgG blot supports a Lyme diagnosis in the right clinical picture. |
Frequently asked questions
Ready to order your Lyme Disease Serology with Reflex?
$40.99, physician-authorized, results in 3–7 business days. No insurance or doctor's visit required.
About this guide
Reviewed July 17, 2026. This is general health information, not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reference ranges vary by laboratory, age, sex, and clinical context - always interpret results with a qualified healthcare provider. Lab analysis is performed at CLIA-certified Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp facilities.