Roxie, the bands only indicate the immune system's response to the bacteria - if the immune system is weakened, certain antibody responses might not show ...
With that said, there is the notion that kDa 31 is specific and unique to lyme - Igenex even says this ..
However, until someone can explain otherwise, this report clearly states that kDa 31 is the main protein in BARTONELLA that synthesizes heme ( iron )
After reading this report, I don't believe band 31 is exclusive to lyme ... and bartonella is associated with many neurological symptoms
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC148071/