Borrelia EliSpot Interferon :
The EliSpot test (Enzyme – Linked Immunosorbent Spot) is a highly sensitive Immunoassay that allows the monitoring of secreted cytokine at single T-cell level. The EliSpot test is able to detect one specific cell out of 100,000 irrelevant cells. Borrelia EliSpot assay measures the cytokine production of T-cells when peripheral blood lymphocytes are incubated with antigen/mitogen solutions of Borrelia burgdorferi. During incubation, there is a secretion of cytokines, which can be measured.
This is a highly sensitive and reproducible test for the detection of an immune response to Borrelia. When the Borrelia infection is no longer active the T-cell immune response will cease, therefore the EliSpot test allows for the monitoring of treatment of Borrelia infection.
1 RKI 1999, Infectious Disease Guide, Lyme-Borreliose, Epidemiological Bulletin, Revised Edition.
2 Craft, J.E. et al “Antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi recognized during Lyme disease. Appearance of a new immunoglobulin M response and expansion of the immunoglobulin G late in the illness.” 1986. J. Clin. Invest. 78:934-39
3 ibid.
4 Goosens H.A.T. et al, Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections cause false positive results in IgM two-test protocol for early Lyme-Borreliosis, 1999. Infection 27 No.3:231.