Lyme IgG Band 18

Having higher than normal levels of Lyme IgG Band 18 might mean that your body has been exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. When your immune system detects this bacteria, it produces antibodies, like Lyme IgG Band 18, to help fight off the infection. It's worth noting that certain factors, such as taking antibiotics recently, could affect the levels of this marker. Additionally, high levels could also suggest a previous Lyme disease infection, as your body can keep making these antibodies even after the bacteria is gone.

Symptoms of high levels of Lyme IgG Band 18 may not be distinct, as this marker is more about exposure to the bacteria rather than symptom manifestation. However, it's generally associated with Lyme disease, which can cause symptoms like fatigue, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.

A low level of Lyme IgG Band 18 might mean that your body hasn't produced a strong immune response to the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which is usually linked to Lyme disease. This could be because the test was taken too early, as it can take some time for antibodies to show up in your blood. It's also possible that you haven't been exposed to the bacteria at all. Additionally, certain medications, like immune-suppressing drugs, could affect the levels of Lyme IgG Band 18 in your blood.

Symptoms of low levels of Lyme IgG Band 18 are typically non-existent, as this test is more about exposure to the bacteria rather than a measure of symptom severity.