The researchers are now applying their approach to other infections and diseases, including Ebola, malaria, and tuberculosis, to name a few. The test would work similarly to that of a pregnancy test, and can be used in underdeveloped countries to quickly identify disease, especially for those furthest away from hospitals.
The patented technology traps specific clues that reveal whether the disease is present. The technology works in the early stages, and can even detect disease with the tiniest traces.
In Lyme disease cases, patients may have active disease, but traditional tests don’t always detect it, meaning, patients could be missing out on the second round of treatment.
Liotta added, “If the patient gets better, the test goes negative. It’s a good way to monitor the patient.”
Co-inventor of the technology Alessandra Luchini concluded, “We’re looking to repeat the story again with these other diseases. Other targets for the new type of test include Chagas disease, which is infectious and caused by a parasite, and toxoplasmosis, another parasite-borne disease.”
Lyme disease diagnosis and tests
Lyme disease signs and symptoms often resemble other ailments, so part of the Lyme disease diagnostics includes ruling out other health conditions. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam along with medical history review, and ask about your activities and hobbies to determine if you could have been exposed to a tick.
Standard testing to properly diagnose Lyme disease includes enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and a western blot test. The ELISA test checks for antibodies to B. burgdorferi, but this test isn’t always reliable. It may present a wrong diagnosis if Lyme disease is in its early stages.
The western blot test is used when the ELISA test comes back positive and used to further confirm diagnosis.
Other Lyme disease diagnostic tests include polymerase chain reaction (PCR), antigen detection, and culture testing, which directly look for the bacteria and not just the immune response to it.
Related Reading:
7 tips to prevent Lyme disease, tick bites
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Lyme disease vs. ALS, differences in symptoms, causes, treatment
Since ALS signs can be similar to treatable diseases, such as Lyme disease, some people think that an infection like Lyme disease can cause ALS, which stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The truth is, Lyme disease does not cause ALS. Lyme disease and ALS are two separate conditions. Continue reading…
Sources:
https://www2.gmu.edu/news/177881
http://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-015-0701-z
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20019701
https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/lyme-disease/diagnosis/