Direct Diagnostic Tests for Lyme Disease

Clin Infect Dis. 2019 Mar 5;68(6):1052-1057. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy614.

Abstract

Borrelia burgdorferi was discovered to be the cause of Lyme disease in 1983, leading to seroassays. The 1994 serodiagnostic testing guidelines predated a full understanding of key B. burgdorferi antigens and have a number of shortcomings. These serologic tests cannot distinguish active infection, past infection, or reinfection. Reliable direct-detection methods for active B. burgdorferi infection have been lacking in the past but are needed and appear achievable. New approaches have effectively been applied to other emerging infections and show promise in direct detection of B. burgdorferi infections.

Keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi; Lyme disease; PCR; high-throughput sequencing; tests.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Borrelia burgdorferi* / genetics
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine
  • Genomics / methods
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis*
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Serologic Tests