0 New Lyme Disease Detection Tests

The latest buzz in the Lyme disease patient community is over Advanced Laboratory Services' new culture test for Borrelia burgdorferi.

The new test uses histology and growth characteristics in conjunction with fluorescent immunostaining to detect Borrelia burgdorferi. Positive results can be further confirmed using standard molecular biology methods (PCR) based on DNA sequencing.

The test is now available for use in all states except California, New York, and Florida, which require a higher level of lab certification for testing. Physicians can obtain lab test kits from ALSI in Pennsylvania.

(I'm still looking for more information on the design and development of this test. While it's been mentioned in numerous sources that it is based on Dr. Eva Sapi's research, I have only seen a citation for her work on morphological changes in Borrelia burgdorferi when exposed to different antibiotics in vitro where the new culture method is mentioned there only in passing.)

I'm keeping an eye on this test and look forward to hearing more about it. But I'm also very interested in hearing more about a new test to detect Lyme disease which was developed by this intelligent young woman, Temple Douglas.

Temple won the 2010 Intel Science Talent Search award for her project, Application of Hydrogel Nanoparticles for Early Lyme Disease Diagnosis. Here's an interview with her:



Temple, at age 18, conducted research on the application of hydrogel nanoparticles for early Lyme disease diagnosis. Her research provides a means to reduce the number of chronic cases of Lyme disease, thus saving many people from the associated complications. A clinical trial is being planned.

Not only was she an Intel Science Talent Search finalist, but she has a patent on this test,too:

BORRELIA BURGDORFERI BACTERIAL ANTIGEN DIAGNOSTIC TEST USING POLYMERIC BAIT CONTAINING CAPTURE PARTICLES
http://www.sumobrain.com/patents/wipo/Borrelia-burgdorferi-bacterial-antigen-diagnostic/WO2011068844.html

I am looking forward to hearing about these clinical trials.

Which test is going to be the most sensitive and accurate?

Additional links:
Official Press Release For Advanced Laboratory Services [PDF file]:
http://researchednutritionals.com/Announcements/LymeCultureTest.pdf

Student's research paper on Lyme disease ranks nationally
http://ww2.fairfaxtimes.com/cms/story.php?id=1021

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