Lyme Disease Part 1: The Common Culprits Worldwide [Hot Topic]

Over 30,000 confirmed or probable cases of Lyme disease occur annually in the United States, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 300,000 cases of presumed Lyme disease go unreported each year. While Lyme disease often presents with a classic erythema migrans rash, some patients present with non-specific symptoms making the diagnosis of Lyme disease largely reliant on laboratory testing. This Hot Topic discusses scenarios in which testing for Lyme disease is indicated and reviews both recommended and inappropriate testing methodologies. The overall focus is on performance of the CDC endorsed two-tiered serologic testing algorithm and the latest CDC recommendations.
A presentation by Elli Theel, PhD