Lyme Disease Testing on Salt Spring Island

Lyme disease testing detects Borrelia burgdorferi and common co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma) that are transmitted through tick bites. Standard two-tier testing misses a significant number of cases, which is why I use advanced testing methods designed to catch infections that conventional screening overlooks.

Lyme disease is the fastest-growing vector-borne illness in North America. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that confirmed Lyme cases have increased significantly over the past decade, with British Columbia identified as an area of expanding tick populations. Standard testing (ELISA followed by Western Blot) has well-documented sensitivity limitations. Research in Clinical Infectious Diseases estimates that standard two-tier testing can miss up to 50% of early Lyme cases and a significant percentage of chronic cases.

I use advanced testing methods that improve detection accuracy. These may include specialized immunoblot panels with expanded antigen coverage, culture-based testing, and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to detect Borrelia DNA directly. Equally important is testing for co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia, and other tick-borne organisms that frequently accompany Lyme and contribute to the complexity of symptoms).

Diagnosing Lyme disease requires clinical judgment alongside lab results. I consider your symptom pattern, exposure history, and the full range of test results when making a diagnosis. If Lyme or co-infections are confirmed, treatment involves a combination of antimicrobial protocols (pharmaceutical and botanical), immune support through IV therapy and supplementation, and strategies to manage the inflammatory and neurological components of the disease.