Lyme Borrelia Nanotrap® Urine Antigen Test
Lyme Borrelia Nanotrap® Urine Antigen Test
Enhanced Sensitivity for Accurate Detection
Conventional Lyme tests rely on the body’s immune response to detect infection, but Borrelia actively suppresses that very response and hides in protected areas of the body. As a result, many patients go undiagnosed.
The Diagnostic Challenge of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease (Borreliosis) is notoriously tricky to diagnose. Traditional testing relies on detecting antibodies, meaning early-stage or persistent infections can go undetected. Borrelia often circulates at very low levels and hides in tissues, making blood-based diagnostics unreliable, especially outside the acute phase.
Because antibody responses take time or may be blunted, patients may test negative despite ongoing infection. That’s why Galaxy’s antigen direct detection strategy bypasses those limitations.
Galaxy’s Direct Detection: Nanotrap® Technology
The Lyme Borrelia urine antigen test uses proprietary Nanotrap® particles to isolate and concentrate the Borrelia OspA antigen.
Licensed via Ceres Nanosciences, this method boosts sensitivity by capturing the molecular signature of the pathogen from urine.
Because the test doesn’t depend on antibody response, it offers an advantage in detecting current presence of a pathogen even when bacterial loads are very low.
This makes Nanotrap® especially valuable in settings where standard testing fails or yields ambiguous results.
What Makes It Different:
- High Sensitivity: Detects extremely low concentrations of Borrelia OspA protein
- Early Detection: Useful in both acute and chronic cases
- Non-Invasive Collection: Single urine sample, no blood draw required
- Actionable Results: Supports diagnosis and evaluation of persistent symptoms
When to Order the Lyme Borrelia Urine Antigen Test
Ideal Use Cases:
- High-risk exposure: recent or suspected tick bite, or travel to endemic areas
- Early symptoms: acute signs suggestive of Lyme disease
- Symptomatic patients: multisystem symptoms like cognitive dysfunction, joint pain, facial palsy, cardiac irregularities
- Non-responders to treatment: persistent symptoms post-antibiotic therapy
- Post-treatment evaluation: to gauge ongoing bacterial activity or reinfection
This test offers clarity when serology is inconclusive and gives additional data for high-stakes clinical decisions.
Why Direct Detection Matters
Antibody-based methods rely on the immune system, they detect exposure, not current pathogen presence. In early disease or immunocompromised patients, those responses may not yet exist or may be suppressed.
Nanotrap® technology shifts the focus to pathogen antigen, revealing current presence of Lyme Borrelia rather than past immune memory. This distinction can mean earlier detection, better treatment decisions, and more confidence in complex cases.
Complementary Testing & The Galaxy Advantage
Complementary Test Strategies
Lyme Borrelia Direct Detect + BBB Direct Detect:
- Together, these tests provide comprehensive coverage across Borrelia species. Relapsing Fever Borrelia circulate in blood and are best captured by BBB Direct Detect, while Lyme Borrelia often reside in tissues and are more effectively identified through Nanotrap® urine antigen testing.
- Our BBB panel also includes Babesia and Bartonella, co-infections that can occur with or without Borrelia, providing a broader view of vector-borne disease.
Why Galaxy’s Nanotrap® Approach Stands Out
- Backed by peer-reviewed research and advanced technology
- Designed for complex, persistent, or ambiguous cases
- Empowers providers to make informed decisions with confidence in complex cases.
The Result: Clarity in Complex Cases
Galaxy’s Nanotrap® test brings a much-needed tool to Lyme diagnostics. By detecting Borrelia antigen directly, providers gain real-time insight into current presence of a pathogen, not just immune history. This leads to more precise treatment decisions, especially in early or persistent cases where serology falls short.