The Myth
Lyme disease testing has a ‘gold standard’ in Canada.

The Truth

There is no universally accepted test for Lyme disease. Every lab test has its advantages and disadvantages, but overall Lyme tests in Canada are largely flawed. Other labs recommended by CanLyme are all certified and accredited, run by PH.D’s who simply refuse to follow flawed testing protocol. Canada has no mechanism for better testing due to bureaucratic controls that are influenced by for-profit players, and not victims and their experts.

Lyme is known for antigenic shifting, so antibody testing isn’t always effective.
PCR tissue and fluids tests are available for various tissue. A positive PCR is highly accurate. A negative PCR only tells the scientist that they did not find evidence in that sample. Another sample from the same patient from a different location may be positive.

Get the Facts

Tag Archive: direct PCR

Detection and heterogeneity of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes ticks by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods

Authors: Xu G, Wesker J, White C, Campbell J, Reich NG and Rich SM Citation: J. Clin. Microbiol. 2012(Nov) Location: ... View Article