Ajax Harwood Clinic
Lyme testing (private lab)
Full name: Lyme disease testing via private, non-PHO laboratories (IGeneX, Armin Labs, and similar)
This test doesn't have a proven medical use for the reasons people usually ask about it.
What this test is
Some private labs offer their own tests for Lyme disease. Many are based in the United States or Germany. Examples include IGeneX and Armin Labs. There are also special tests like LTT-Lyme or a CD57 count. These are sometimes sold as more sensitive than standard testing. This is often true after a standard test comes back negative. Health authorities have warned about some of these labs. They use methods and ways of reading results that have not been properly checked. Some reports say similar methods were used in Canada too. A positive result from one of these tests does not reliably confirm Lyme disease. It can lead to long courses of antibiotics for an infection that isn't really there. If Lyme disease is a real concern for you, start with the validated public health test instead.
Want to see the full clinical reasoning? The reference we use for this test is open to anyone — it is detailed and written for clinicians, and you are welcome to read it.
Open the clinician reference →Looking for other tests, or more on a condition an ND raised? Explore ask.ajaxharwoodclinic.com →
General health information for Ajax Harwood Clinic patients and the public — not medical advice, and not a substitute for seeing your own doctor. Last reviewed 2026-09-23.