Experts Highlight Lyme Disease Prevention and New Diagnostic Technologies

Cranbury, NJ — As tick season begins, healthcare professionals are stressing the importance of prevention and early detection of tick-borne illnesses, particularly Lyme disease. In honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Jason Barker, ND, a clinical lab educator at Vibrant Wellness, provided insights into effective prevention strategies and recent advancements in diagnostics.

Barker emphasized that prevention is crucial for populations at higher risk, including forestry workers, farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, and pet owners. He recommended wearing protective clothing — such as long pants, tall socks, and long sleeves. ‘Sun-protective clothing with hoods can be helpful,’ he added. He suggested that pyrethroids are effective repellents, while alternatives like essential oils, including lavender or neem, may offer some protection.

To prevent tick bites, practitioners advise that individuals should take measures like wearing protective clothing, using repellents, enjoying hot showers after outdoor activities, and conducting thorough tick checks, focusing on warm areas of the body.

Clinicians should keep tick-borne diseases in mind, especially when patients display summer flu-like symptoms, even if they do not exhibit the classic erythema migrans rash. Barker noted, ‘One challenge is detecting nymphal ticks, which are about the size of a poppy seed and can transmit infection despite their small size.’

Recent advancements in diagnostics include multiplex PCR and protein microarrays which enhance accuracy by detecting multiple pathogens or antibody responses in a single test. These tools could improve clinical outcomes by facilitating more precise diagnosis and timely treatment.

Published in Scientific Reports in January 2025, Vibrant Wellness’ multiplex protein microarray demonstrated improved sensitivity and specificity over conventional methods and can detect antibodies to over 400 antigens, including Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. Barker stated, ‘Standard PCR can be limited by the small inoculum delivered from a tick bite, making detection challenging. Multiplex PCR targets multiple genetic sequences from the pathogen rather than a single marker, increasing the likelihood of detection.’

As studies on these cutting-edge diagnostic approaches continue, Barker remains optimistic about the future of tick-borne disease testing and hopes to see comprehensive and accurate testing become standard in clinical practice.