IS IT LYME-DISEASE - HOW TO INTERPRET RESULTS OF LABORATORY TESTING

Although laboratory testing is likely to have a greater role in diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of Lyme disease in the future, at present physicians must rely on a combination of history taking, clinical manifestations, and laboratory results. Unwarranted antibiotic therapy is to be avoided. Asymptomatic persons with positive serologic results who live in an endemic area present a challenge, and borderline serologic results in patients with manifestations of late Lyme disease are also troubling. All relevant clinical information must be considered before treatment is undertaken, until more specific and sensitive tests are available.