Typically, test results are available in 1 to 2 weeks. Negative (normal): No band patterns appear at all on the membrane. Positive: At least one band appears on the membrane. A negative result does not mean that you do not have Lyme disease. Many people with Lyme disease will not show any symptoms or only mild ones. Even if you don't feel sick, your body may still be fighting the infection. A negative result could also mean that you have been cured of Lyme disease. A positive result should be followed up with testing of other family members who may not be aware they are infected, so they can be treated as well. The white blood cell test can help identify those who might not be symptomatic but could be spreading the bacteria around their body. This type of testing is called "serological testing." Western blots are considered the "gold standard" for diagnosing Lyme disease because no other method is completely reliable. Other tests exist, but they may give false positives or negatives. For example, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test can give false positives when used to diagnose early stage Lyme disease.