New approaches may help solve the Lyme disease diagnosis dilemma

Today’s diagnostics leave too many people in limbo

tick attached to skin

GETTING ATTACHED A tick that is attached to the skin for about two days can spread Lyme disease, the most common tickborne infection in the United States. The disease is hard to detect, but scientists are investigating new diagnostic approaches.

VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE SOURCE

In 2005, Rachel Straub was a college student returning home from a three-week medical service mission in Central America.