By Terri McCormick

During a recent educational seminar, Lyme-literate clinician Dr. Cory Tichauer discussed a new option for tick-borne disease testing.

TickPlex Plus is a blood test offered through the U.S.-based online platform Jivora Health in collaboration with ArminLabs, the laboratory that performs the testing. Patients can request testing directly through a telehealth ordering system and complete the blood collection at  home.

The panel evaluates how the immune system is responding to Lyme disease (Borrelia), along with common tick-borne co-infections such as Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia, and certain opportunistic infections including Epstein–Barr virus, coxsackie virus, parvovirus, and Mycoplasma.

It measures both IgM and IgG antibodies, allowing clinicians to see signs of more recent immune activity as well as longer-standing exposure. Rather than providing only a simple positive or negative result, TickPlex Plus reports quantitative values that show how strongly the immune system is reacting.

How is this different from standard testing?

Many patients are familiar with the standard two-tier Lyme test used in most conventional settings. It looks for antibodies to one species of Lyme bacteria.

TickPlex Plus takes a broader look. It checks for immune responses to several Borrelia species rather than just one. It also assesses antibodies to proteins associated with different forms of the bacteria, including the spiral-shaped spirochete form and the persistent round-body form.

It also screens for common tick-borne co-infections. Since different infections can cause distinct symptom patterns and may require different treatments, identifying them can help guide next steps.

For patients whose symptoms continue despite negative basic testing, this broader panel may offer additional information to review with a clinician.

How does the at-home test work?

The kit includes a small blood collection device called Tasso. Once the kit arrives at your home, you place the device on your upper arm or shoulder and press a button. It gently collects about one milliliter of blood over a few minutes.

Afterward, you package the sample in the prepaid mailer and send it to the laboratory for analysis. The sample is processed in a certified laboratory, and results are delivered through the patient portal.

Do patients need a doctor’s order?

Patients do not need their own physician to place the order before testing.

The panel can be requested directly through Jivora Health’s online platform. A licensed telehealth physician reviews the request and formally authorizes the laboratory order.

Once approved, the kit is mailed to the patient. After the sample is returned and processed, results are delivered securely through the patient portal and can be shared with primary care providers or specialists.

How the symptom quiz works

Jivora Health’s website includes a quiz designed to help patients organize their symptom patterns.

The quiz groups symptoms into patterns more commonly associated with Borrelia, Bartonella, or Babesia. For example, air hunger and night sweats may align more closely with Babesia. Neurological irritability, anxiety, or vascular pain may raise suspicion for Bartonella. Migratory joint pain and cognitive slowing may align more closely with Borrelia patterns.

The quiz does not diagnose infection. It helps patients organize their symptoms and think more strategically about which infections to discuss and what testing may be worth considering.

Jivora Health also hosts educational office hours sessions with Dr. Cory Tichauer where participants can ask questions and learn more about the testing.

Will my doctor accept these results?

Doctors may react very differently to this kind of testing. Because TickPlex Plus is newer and not part of the standard two‑tier Lyme testing system, some mainstream providers may not recognize it or may choose not to use it when making decisions.

Even clinicians who specialize in tick‑borne illness often have their own preferred tests, so acceptance can vary a lot.

The lab that runs the TickPlex Plus panel meets U.S. quality standards (CLIA and CAP). Still, diagnosing Lyme and other tick‑borne infections is complicated, and no single test—standard or specialty—can give the full picture.

Both the CDC and ILADS emphasize that Lyme disease is ultimately a clinical diagnosis. That means doctors look at symptoms, medical history, and physical findings first, and use lab tests as supporting information rather than definitive proof.

As with any lab result, these findings need to be viewed in the context of someone’s overall health. Working with a clinician who understands tick‑borne illness can help ensure the results are interpreted in a meaningful way.

Final thoughts

Tick‑borne diseases don’t always behave in predictable ways, and symptoms don’t always match what standard tests are designed to detect. Broader panels like TickPlex Plus aim to give a wider view of how the immune system is responding, which some patients and clinicians find helpful when dealing with persistent or unexplained symptoms.

No test can provide all the answers, but having clear, organized information to review with a knowledgeable clinician can help patients feel more informed and better prepared for next steps.

Cory Tichauer, ND, is the owner and lead physician of Bear Creek Naturopathic Clinic in Medford, Oregon. He serves on the board of directors of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS).

Click here to learn more about Jivora Health and TickPlex Plus testing. 

Terri McCormick is a writer and advocate with LymeDisease.org. She is author of the forthcoming book Being Misdiagnosed: Stories That Reveal the Hidden Epidemic of Lyme Disease.