Laboratories and tests

What is the situation in Switzerland?

Detecting various infectious pathogens such as Borrelia, Bartonella, and Babesia can be very challenging. Indeed, there are many types of tests on the market, with very different sensitivities (the percentage capacity to detect a positive person) and methods that are not all equal.

A meta-analysis has been able to demonstrate that commercial kits (two-phase test) officially used to detect Lyme borreliosis have an average sensitivity of only 59.2% [ 1 ]. This means that 4 out of 10 patients will not be detected by these tests. In addition, these tests are indirect, so they do not indicate whether an infection is active or not.

On the other hand, studies have been able to demonstrate that the tests generally used to detect Babesia or Bartonella are hardly better [ 2 - 3 - 4] .

How to fix this problem?

To address this problem, specialized laboratories such as RED Labs, Igenex, and Tlab have emerged. With their extensive expertise in this field, these laboratories offer more tailored and accurate tests. These tests are generally distinguished by their increased sensitivity and cover a wide range of species for each pathogen, unlike traditional commercial laboratories.

In addition, these laboratories offer innovative testing methods such as detection by the presence of micro viruses (called phages) directed against the pathogen or by direct detection using confocal microscopy on RNA targets (called FISH).

What tests should I do?

There is no test that is 100% capable of detecting an infection, however the latest scientific publications indicate convincing results with these tests [ 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 ]:

Borrelia: Phelix Phage, Line immunoblot, FISH

Bartonella: FISH, Line immunoblot

Babesia : FISH, Line immunoblot

Explanatory PDF

How to access it?

Lyme Suisse has set up a form that allows you to send a request to order tests in a simplified manner.

This is possible thanks to the RED laboratory in Belgium, which, in addition to its own testing, offers the possibility of outsourcing orders to Tlab or IGeneX. Sample collection and shipping to Belgium can be done with the MGD laboratory in Geneva.

Detecting various infectious pathogens such as Borrelia, Bartonella and Babesia can be very difficult. In fact, there are many different types of tests on the market, with widely differing sensitivities (% ability to detect a positive person) and different methods.

A meta-analysis has shown that the commercial kits (two-tiered testing) officially used to detect Lyme borreliosis have an average sensitivity of just 59.2% [1]. This means that 4 out of 10 patients will not be detected by these tests. What's more, as these tests are indirect (they look for the immune response to the pathogen, not the pathogen itself), they cannot indicate whether an infection is active or not.

Moreover, studies have shown that the tests generally used to detect Babesia or Bartonella do not perform much better.

[2-3-4] .
To improve the detection of vector-borne diseases, specialized laboratories such as R.E.D. Labs, Igenex and TLabDX have emerged. Drawing on their in-depth expertise in this field, these laboratories offer tests using more appropriate and more precise technologies.

Their tests are distinguished by their enhanced sensitivity and cover a wide range of species for each pathogen, unlike traditional commercial laboratories.
There is no test capable of 100% detection of infection, but the latest scientific publications show very convincing results with new tests [5-6-7-8-9].

They are also widely used by doctors specializing in Lyme disease and its co-infections (LLMD) in the USA [10].

1) Phelix Phage:

For each bacterium, there is always an associated "bacteriophage" virus. This test detects the presence of bacterial-specific phages, such as Borrelia, in a patient's blood sample. Since phages cannot reproduce without their host (Borrelia) and produce many more DNA copies in patients' blood than Borrelia itself, this direct test is particularly sensitive even in chronic infections.

This test exists for Borrelia (Lyme borreliosis and recurrent borreliosis) and Rickettsia.

2) FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization):

The FISH technique uses fluorescent markers that bind to pathogen RNA in the blood. Using a microscope, it is possible to see these markers glow when the pathogen is present in the sample.

This test exists for Borrelia, Bartonella and Babesia

3) Line immunoblot:

This antibody test is a vastly improved version of the two-tiered test commonly used in Switzerland and worldwide (ELISA + Western Blot). It also identifies IgM and IgG antibodies to the bacterium or parasite, but has much better sensitivity (93% for Borrelia), covers more bands (including bands 31 and 34 for Borrelia), and allows detection of many species (between 5 and 8 species for Borrelia). It is much better suited to chronic and advanced stages of borreliosis (Lyme).

This test exists for Borrelia, Bartonella and Babesia

The IgG immunoblot was validated by the FDA in September 2024 for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.
Lyme Suisse has set up a form to order tests from the R.E.D. laboratory in Belgium.

In addition to its own tests, this laboratory offers the possibility of subcontracting orders to TLabDX or IGeneX.

Please note: most of these tests, based on fundamental research, are very recent and often not yet known or accepted in Switzerland for diagnostic purposes. You will therefore probably need to inform your doctor of their existence and usefulness.