Lyme Disease Blood Test Cost: Self-Pay Price Comparison

Q: Does a Lyme blood test include the confirmatory Western blot?

Sometimes. Listings that say with reflex, with confirmation, or two-step often perform confirmatory testing only if the first screen is positive or equivocal. Some providers may charge separately, so consumers should check the product page and checkout terms.

Medical & affiliate disclosure: CTX Stat provides educational laboratory information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. CTX Stat may receive compensation from some outbound provider links when an affiliate program is active; provider comparisons and rankings are based on consumer fit, effective cost, access, policies, and reputation—not commission.

Quick take

Typical self-pay price: Most national online options for a standard Lyme antibody blood test with reflex confirmation cluster around $55 to $169 before any separate medical visit. Specialty Lyme or tick-borne panels can range from about $95 to well over $1,000, depending on the lab and how many organisms or methods are included.
Best apples-to-apples comparison: For suspected Lyme disease, compare a two-step serologic blood test: an initial antibody screen, with a second confirmatory assay performed only when the first step is positive or equivocal. The CDC describes this two-step process as the recommended laboratory approach.
Lowest sticker price is not always lowest total cost: Add mandatory order, physician, requisition, draw, shipping, or reflex-test fees before comparing prices.
Do not test too early and over-trust a negative result: Antibody tests may be falsely negative in the first several weeks after infection; they perform better after antibodies have had time to develop.
Seek medical care promptly for an expanding rash, facial droop, severe headache or neck stiffness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, swollen painful joints, neurologic symptoms, pregnancy, or illness after a tick bite.

If you are searching for lyme disease blood test blood test cost, you are probably trying to answer a practical question: “How much will this cost me out of pocket, and which lab option should I buy?” The short answer is that a basic self-pay Lyme disease blood test from a national online lab marketplace often costs roughly the same as many routine blood tests, but the final bill varies because Lyme testing may involve reflex confirmation, a provider order, a blood draw site, state-specific availability rules, and sometimes a medical visit for treatment decisions.

The most important point is to compare the same kind of test. A standard first-line Lyme disease blood test is not a broad “everything tick-borne” panel. It is usually a blood antibody test for Borrelia burgdorferi, often listed as Lyme Disease Antibody, Lyme Total Antibodies IgG/IgM, Lyme Ab Screen with Reflex, or Lyme Disease Test with Confirmation. The CDC recommends FDA-cleared antibody tests performed in a two-step process; if the first test is negative, additional confirmatory testing is generally not performed, while a positive or equivocal first step should trigger the second step using the same blood sample. CDC testing guidance also emphasizes that early infection can test negative before antibodies are detectable.

Lyme disease blood test cost: self-pay comparison

The table below focuses on consumer-pay options that are commonly available nationally or through large laboratory networks. Prices can change at checkout, promotions may appear or disappear, and some tests are restricted by age, location, or state law. For a fair comparison, the “effective cost” column includes mandatory fees that were visible in public product or listing information when available.

Provider or option	Test type to compare	Published self-pay price / effective total	Collection and workflow	Important cost notes
New Century Labs	Lyme Disease Ab with Reflex to Blot IgG/IgM, performed through Quest test listing	About $55 total in public aggregator listing: $43 test + $12 requisition charge	Online order; blood draw at a participating lab location	Lower-cost marketplace option, but verify current availability, lab location, and state restrictions before purchase. Aggregator listings may not reflect every checkout rule.
Ulta Lab Tests	Lyme Disease Ab Test with Reflex to Blot IgG/IgM	Public listings have shown about $58 total when a $44.95 test price is combined with a $12.95 requisition/order fee	Online order; blood draw at a participating draw center	Public pages describe a two-step blood draw test, but price visibility can vary by location and promotion. Check whether reflex confirmatory testing has an added charge if the screen is positive/equivocal.
Labcorp OnDemand	Lyme Disease Antibody Test	$99	Purchase online, authorized healthcare provider review, in-person blood draw at a Labcorp location, results online	Labcorp describes the test as using the CDC-recommended two-step method and lists in-person collection, age 18–100, HSA/FSA acceptance, and 1–2 day results after the sample reaches the lab. See Labcorp OnDemand.
Quest Health / Quest Diagnostics	Lyme Disease Test with Confirmation	Common direct-to-consumer and marketplace pricing is around $99; confirm at checkout	Purchase online, schedule a Quest Diagnostics patient service center visit, results online	Quest describes IgM/IgG antibody testing following the CDC-recommended two-step process, with the second test performed on the same sample when the initial result is positive. See Quest Health.
Request A Test	Lyme Disease Total Antibodies IgG/IgM, screen with confirmation	$99 for both Quest and Labcorp network options in public Lyme testing listings	Order online; choose Quest or Labcorp-associated collection where available; results through the service	Public listings show the same $99 price for Quest and Labcorp versions of the screen-with-confirmation option. See Request A Test Lyme testing.
Walk-In Lab	Lyme Disease Antibodies Blood Test IgG/IgM immunoblot	$105 total before promotions: $99 test + $6 per-order physician fee	Order online; blood draw at a participating lab network; results online	This public product page describes an IgG/IgM immunoblot rather than a standard first-tier screen. Walk-In Lab itself notes that CDC does not recommend Western blot as an initial screening test. See Walk-In Lab.
HealthLabs.com	Lyme Disease Antibodies Test	$159	Online order; in-person draw at a partner lab; results in account	Public product and category pages describe secure online results, often within one to three business days. See HealthLabs.com.
Accesa Labs	Lyme Disease Test	About $169 in public listings	Online order; draw through supported lab locations	May be useful where you want a clinician-reviewed online order, but verify location availability and whether the test is a first-line antibody screen with reflex.
IGeneX and other specialty labs	Lyme serology, immunoblot, PCR, or multi-test tick-borne panels	Examples include $95 for Lyme serology IgG/IgM, $225 each for Lyme ImmunoBlot IgM or IgG, and panels that can exceed $490–$1,900	Often requires kit ordering, blood draw or specimen handling, and clinician involvement	Specialty testing is not the same product as a standard CDC two-tier screen. Review clinical need, validation, insurance status, and follow-up plan with a clinician. See the IGeneX requisition/price sheet.

How we compared effective cost to the patient

This comparison prioritizes what a self-pay consumer is likely to pay to get a Lyme blood test completed, not the amount an insurance plan or Medicare might reimburse. We compared: the advertised test price; mandatory provider, physician, requisition, order, or processing fees; whether blood draw collection appears included; whether a reflex confirmatory test is included or may be billed separately; whether the test is collected through Quest, Labcorp, or another network; and whether state restrictions may block ordering or collection.

We did not rank providers by commission, and price alone is not a medical recommendation. Some low-cost options can be appropriate if they provide the right test, a usable lab location, and clear results. A higher-cost option may be reasonable when it includes easier scheduling, clearer support, or a broader clinical question. The best value is the lowest total price for the correct test, collected at a convenient location, with a plan for interpreting the result.

For context, Medicare laboratory reimbursement for Lyme-related CPT codes is much lower than many consumer cash prices. The 2026 clinical lab fee schedule examples include rates around $17.03 for CPT 86618, an antibody analysis for Borrelia burgdorferi, and $15.49 for CPT 86617, a confirmatory Lyme antibody test, in public fee schedule files. That does not mean a consumer can buy the test for those amounts; it simply shows why retail self-pay prices include order handling, draw-site access, portal delivery, support, and business overhead beyond the underlying assay reimbursement.

What a Lyme disease blood test includes

Most standard Lyme blood tests measure antibodies your immune system makes in response to Lyme-associated bacteria. They do not look directly for a live tick, do not prove that bacteria are currently active, and do not tell exactly when exposure happened. The test is useful only when interpreted with symptoms, exposure history, geography, timing, and a clinician’s exam.

The recommended structure is two-step serology. The first step is usually an enzyme immunoassay, chemiluminescent immunoassay, or similar antibody screen. If that first step is negative, the overall test is generally negative and no second step is performed. If the first step is positive or equivocal, the lab performs a second assay. In classic standard two-tier testing, the second step is an immunoblot or Western blot; in modified two-tier testing, two different EIAs may be used. The CDC explains that the overall result is considered positive only when the first test is positive or equivocal and the second test is positive according to the test algorithm.

This matters for cost because some products are only a screen, some are a screen with reflex confirmation, and some are standalone immunoblot or specialty panels. If you buy only a standalone Western blot or immunoblot as your first test, you may be purchasing a product that is not the usual recommended starting point. If you buy a broad tick-borne disease panel, you may be paying for tests for Babesia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, or relapsing fever organisms that may or may not match your symptoms or geographic risk.

When testing may be worth paying for

A Lyme blood test is most useful when there is a realistic exposure risk plus symptoms compatible with Lyme disease and enough time has passed for antibodies to develop. Possible early symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, and an expanding erythema migrans rash. Later manifestations can include facial palsy, severe headaches and neck stiffness, arthritis with joint swelling, heart rhythm symptoms, dizziness, shortness of breath, nerve pain, numbness, or tingling. The CDC’s signs and symptoms page notes that the erythema migrans rash occurs in many but not all infected people and does not always look like a classic bull’s-eye.

If you have a classic expanding rash after a tick exposure, do not let a price comparison delay medical care. Lyme disease can be diagnosed clinically in some situations, and early treatment may be started without waiting for a positive blood test. The CDC states that most cases are treated with 10 days to 4 weeks of antibiotics and that people treated appropriately in early stages usually recover rapidly and completely. Treatment decisions should be made by a licensed clinician, not by a shopping cart result alone.

How to choose a Lyme blood test without overspending

1. Start with the test name. For most consumers, the most comparable product is “Lyme antibody screen with reflex” or “Lyme total antibodies IgG/IgM with confirmation.” Be cautious if the listing is only “Western blot,” “immunoblot,” “PCR,” “CD57,” or a large tick-borne panel unless a clinician specifically recommended that option.

2. Confirm what happens if the screen is positive or equivocal. Ask: “Is confirmatory testing included in this price, or will I be charged again?” Reflex confirmation is a common place for surprise costs.

3. Add mandatory fees. Some providers include the clinician order and blood draw in one price. Others add a physician fee, requisition fee, draw fee, or shipping fee. For example, Walk-In Lab publicly lists a $6 per-order physician fee on its Lyme immunoblot product page, while some marketplace listings itemize requisition charges separately.

4. Check state restrictions before paying. Direct-access lab testing is not equally available in every state. Quest Health’s help materials state that tests at questhealth.com are not available in Arizona, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico, and some tests have additional state restrictions. Walk-In Lab’s FAQ states that, because of state regulations, it cannot offer Labcorp services in NY, NJ, RI, MD, and MA or Quest services in AZ, NY, NJ, and RI, and that orders cannot be used at lab locations in those states through its service. Always rely on the checkout page for your state and the exact test.

5. Look at public customer-satisfaction evidence, but interpret it carefully. Reviews are not medical quality data. They can, however, reveal patterns around scheduling, billing, customer support, and result delivery. Public Trustpilot pages show strong consumer ratings for Walk-In Lab, with many reviewers mentioning convenience, price, and easy ordering; HealthLabs.com shows a “Great” profile with thousands of reviews; Labcorp OnDemand has a small number of Trustpilot reviews, so its score is less representative; Quest Diagnostics’ general review pages include many complaints about billing and site experience, which may not perfectly reflect prepaid Quest Health orders. Use reviews as a service-experience clue, not as proof that one lab’s Lyme assay is medically superior.

What your Lyme blood test results can and cannot tell you

A negative result can mean no detectable antibody response, but timing matters. The CDC notes that serologic tests may be falsely negative during the first 4–6 weeks after infection. If your symptoms are recent and concern remains high, a clinician may recommend watchful waiting, repeat testing later, or treatment based on clinical findings.

A positive result means your immune system has made antibodies that react to Lyme-associated bacteria under that test’s rules. It does not automatically prove an active infection today. Antibodies can remain detectable for months or years after infection, and they cannot be used to prove cure. False positives can occur with some other conditions, including relapsing fever, syphilis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Epstein-Barr virus infection, according to CDC clinician guidance.

An IgM-positive result needs special caution. CDC clinician guidance states that positive IgM results should be disregarded when a patient has been ill for more than 30 days. This is a common source of confusion when consumers buy testing without a clinician available to interpret the timing.

When a specialty panel may be worth the extra cost

Specialty panels may be considered when symptoms, travel, geography, occupational exposure, immune status, or prior testing raise a broader question than standard Lyme disease. For example, blacklegged ticks can transmit anaplasmosis and babesiosis in some areas, and other ticks can transmit different infections. But more tests are not automatically better. Broad panels increase cost, may identify past exposure rather than current illness, and can produce confusing borderline or false-positive results.

The IDSA/AAN/ACR Lyme disease guideline emphasizes validated serologic testing and cautions against several nonstandard approaches for routine clinical use, including unvalidated nonserologic tests and quantitative CD57 lymphocyte assays. If you are considering a $400, $700, or $1,500 specialty panel, the most cost-effective first step is often a clinician visit to decide whether the panel answers a specific medical question.

Practical next steps before you buy

Write down the date of the tick bite or possible exposure, symptom start date, rash description, travel location, and any antibiotics already taken.
Choose a standard Lyme antibody test with reflex confirmation unless a clinician has recommended a different test.
Compare total checkout cost, not just the advertised price.
Verify that your state, age, and collection location are eligible.
Save a copy of the order, receipt, test name, CPT codes if shown, and result report.
Arrange follow-up if your result is positive, equivocal, discordant with symptoms, or negative despite ongoing concern.

Educational disclaimer: This article is for general education and price comparison only. It does not diagnose Lyme disease, recommend treatment, or replace care from a licensed healthcare professional. Seek urgent medical care for severe symptoms, neurologic symptoms, heart symptoms, pregnancy-related concerns, or rapidly worsening illness after a tick bite.

FAQs

How much does a Lyme disease blood test cost without insurance?

A standard self-pay Lyme antibody blood test commonly costs about $55 to $169 through national online lab-ordering services, depending on the provider, mandatory fees, and whether reflex confirmation is included. Direct Labcorp OnDemand and many Quest/Labcorp marketplace options are around $99, while specialty Lyme and tick-borne panels can cost several hundred to more than $1,000.

What is the cheapest Lyme disease blood test?

The lowest public marketplace prices are often in the $55 to $60 range after requisition fees, but availability and state restrictions matter. A very low price is only a good value if it is the correct test, includes needed reflex confirmation, and can be collected at a convenient lab location.

Does a Lyme blood test include the confirmatory Western blot?

Sometimes. A listing that says “with reflex,” “with confirmation,” or “two-step” often means the confirmatory test is performed only if the first screen is positive or equivocal. However, some providers may charge separately for reflex testing, so check the product page and checkout terms before paying.

Is a PCR test better than an antibody test for Lyme disease?

Not usually for routine initial testing. CDC and major guidelines emphasize serologic antibody testing as the standard laboratory approach for Lyme disease. PCR may have a role in selected clinical situations, but it is not the usual first-line consumer blood test for suspected Lyme disease.

Can I use insurance for a self-pay Lyme test?

Most direct-to-consumer lab marketplaces are designed for self-pay purchase and do not bill insurance. Some accept HSA or FSA funds. If you want insurance coverage, ask your healthcare provider to order testing through an in-network lab and confirm your plan’s coverage rules.

When should I test after a tick bite?

Testing immediately after a tick bite is often not helpful because antibodies may not have developed. If you have symptoms, especially an expanding rash or flu-like illness after possible exposure, contact a healthcare provider rather than relying only on a self-ordered test. A clinician can decide whether to treat, test now, or repeat testing later.

Why are specialty Lyme tests so expensive?

Specialty tests may include multiple antibody methods, immunoblots, PCR, species panels, or coinfection testing. Those additions increase price and complexity. They may be appropriate for selected cases, but they are not equivalent to a standard first-line Lyme antibody screen and should usually be chosen with clinician guidance.