Two-tier Lyme testing begins with a crucial distinction: a positive Lyme screening test is not, by itself, a positive Lyme test. That distinction matters when syphilis is in the differential, because antibodies produced against Treponema pallidum can react with antigens used in some Lyme disease screening assays. Treating the screen as a diagnosis can lead a clinician to label a patient with syphilis as having Lyme disease.
syphilis testing
Lyme Has Warriors. Syphilis Has Silence.
Lyme disease and syphilis occupy very different public worlds. With Lyme disease, a patient can enter an entire network of advocacy organizations, support groups, podcasts, documentaries, physician directories, disease-specific news outlets, awareness campaigns and fundraising galas. Global Lyme Alliance operates peer-support programs and holds a major annual gala, while LymeDisease.org maintains support groups, patient resources, physician information, research programs and multiple news and commentary publications. The Lyme community may be divided and controversial, but it is visible.[1][2]