Hi MCG141, welcome to the board!
I am sorry your husband is having symptoms. No test for Lyme is completley reliable, and results can vary by lab. From what I understand, the titer or ELISA is the least reliable test and the ome most doctors run first. The Western Blot is a better test, but it should be done at a Lyme lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA. This test lists a series of numerical bands with a + - or IND rating after each one. Some bands are specific for Lyme disease. Labs such as Quest and LabCorp do not list all the Lyme-specific bands that IgeneX does.
Below is a Lyme symptom list. There can be any combination of symptoms.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushin
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
When Lyme disease is possible, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-nfections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these also by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX.
I believe NY has the highest number of Lyme cases in the country. Fortunately, there are some excellent Lyme doctors in NY. You can email me at [email protected] for doctor recommendations.
It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2008 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. I also recommend the books "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singleton MD and "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner.
Your husband is lucky to have your support. If he does have Lyme disease, good help is available.