Lyme Disease Testing Algorithm

In North America, ticks are primary vectors of infectious diseases. Some of the most common tickborne diseases in the U.S. include Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasmosis, tickborne relapsing fever, and tularemia. Other tickborne diseases include Colorado tick fever, Powassan virus, and spotted fever rickettsioses. Many tickborne illnesses have similar clinical presentation, and laboratory testing should be performed when a patient has a tick bite and/or symptoms suspicious for tickborne disease. Initial workup for tickborne disease includes testing for Borrelia burgdorferi if patient has been present in an area endemic for Lyme disease or other tickborne disease based on patient location.