Poor Positive Predictive Value of Lyme Disease Serologic Testing in an Area of Low Disease Incidence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lyme disease is diagnosed by 2-tiered serologic testing in patients with a compatible clinical illness, but the significance of positive test results in low-prevalence regions has not been investigated.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of patients who tested positive for Lyme disease with standardized 2-tiered serologic testing between 2005 and 2010 at a single hospital system in a region with little endemic Lyme disease. Based on clinical findings, we calculated the positive predictive value of Lyme disease serology. Next, we reviewed the outcome of serologic testing in patients with select clinical syndromes compatible with disseminated Lyme disease (arthritis, cranial neuropathy, or meningitis).

Results

During the 6-year study period 4723 patients

SUBMITTER: Lantos PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4599394 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature