Lyme disease can be detected early by urine test: New study

Lyme disease can be detected early by urine test: New studyLyme disease can be detected early on by a urine test, as suggested by a new study. The findings come from researchers at George Mason University who have developed a urine test to detect Lyme disease early on. It is one of the largest study of its kind, which took three years and involved 300 patients. Co-director Lance Liotta said, “We are looking at a highly specific protein shed from the surface of the bacteria that causes Lyme.”

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.

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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.


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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/

Author Bio

Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.

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