Determining the Most Accurate and Early Form for Detection of Lyme Disease

Abstract

Lyme disease is the most common vector-based disease with over 300,000 new cases each year. The current diagnostic system for those with Early Lyme disease is only about 40% accurate. Since the severity of symptoms and probability of recurrence significantly increases as time progresses, there is a need to find a new alternative diagnostic system for Early Lyme disease. Many solutions to this problem are considered within this document, most notably: polymerase chain reaction detection, metabolic biosignature testing, and OspC targeting serological testing. After further analysis, metabolic biosignature testing is considered the best alternative since it yields the highest diagnosis sensitivity with around 89% accuracy. Additionally, metabolic biosignature testing is both cost effective and widely applicable since it does not require the Erythema migran rash to be used. Once in place, Lyme disease will be able to be diagnosed quicker, thus reducing the number of cases of Chronic Lyme disease which significantly reduces personal quality of life and is often costly. Keywords: Early Lyme disease, Metabolic Biosignature, Serological testing, Borrelia burgdorferi, Diagnostic Standards, Polymerase Chain Reaction