Errors in Diagnostic Test Use and Interpretation Contribute to the High Number of Lyme Disease Referrals in a Low-Incidence State. (11th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boyce, Ross M; Speight, Carly; Lin, Jessica T; Farel, Claire E
• Is Part Of: Open forum infectious diseases. Volume 7:Number 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-11
• Subjects: diagnostic testing; Lyme disease -- referrals -- tick-borne disease; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2328-8957

Abstract

Abstract: Lyme disease accounted for more than two-thirds (56 of 81, 69.1%) of all tick-borne disease referrals to a large, academic infectious diseases clinic in a low-incidence state. Deviations from diagnostic testing guidelines and errors in test interpretation were common (23 of 35, 65.7%), suggesting that frontline providers need additional clinical support.