Lyme Disease Testing

San Leandro, CA, May 26, 2017

Earlier this month, San Francisco’s KGO-TV broadcast a story about Lyme disease and the medical challenges faced by area residents who have been diagnosed with the condition. The report chronicles the potential difficulties of getting an accurate diagnosis and efforts to improve the situation.

This month also happens to be National Lyme Disease Awareness Month and the return of tick season in many parts of the state. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. In California and along the West Coast, the western blacklegged tick spreads the disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see; they feed during the spring and summer months. Adult ticks can also transmit the Lyme disease bacterium, but they are much larger and are more likely to be discovered and removed before they have had time to cause an infection.

“Many health experts believe there are likely many more cases of Lyme disease in California than are reported due to the disease’s case definition and patients being misdiagnosed with other conditions,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Health officials encourage people to seek medical attention if they observe Lyme disease symptoms and have had a tick bite. The ticks themselves can also be tested for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi utilizing PCR-based DNA analysis. At EMSL we offer an easy-to-use Lyme Disease Tick Test Kit to collect samples that are then analyzed through our network of laboratories.”

EMSL has also sponsored an educational video about ticks and Lyme disease that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/nzINREQurOg.

To learn more about this or other environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com or www.TickTestingLab.com, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675. For access to test kits, please visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical, Inc. is one of the leading testing laboratories with 40 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations.  In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.