Lyme Disease Testing Practices, Wisconsin, USA, 2016–2019

TL;DR

This study examines Lyme disease testing patterns in Wisconsin from 2016 to 2019, finding that many people tested positive multiple times, which could affect how surveillance data is interpreted.

Contribution

The study reveals that repeat testing frequency increases with age and may impact surveillance data accuracy.

Findings

6%–15% of persons with a positive test each year had previously tested positive.

Repeat testing frequency increased with patient age.

Repeat testing of persons with prior seropositivity may affect surveillance data interpretation.

Abstract

Positive laboratory results are increasingly used for Lyme disease surveillance in the United States. We found 6%–15% of persons with a positive test each year tested positive in a prior year; repeat testing frequency increased with patient age. Repeat testing of persons with previous seropositivity could affect surveillance data interpretation.

Figures