AcuDart’s new test is FDA-approved and is available for purchase by the public without a doctor’s order or office visit. The test requires a simple finger prick and blood droplets versus a blood arm draw, and touts high reliability with results within three to five days. Individual test kits are available for Lyme disease, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, Babesiosis, and Bartonellosis, priced at $149 each, and a comprehensive panel for all four diseases for $499.
Why is the test promoted as highly accurate? This test identifies antibodies to nine Borrelia species, more than any other test. Most Lyme disease tests look for only one species, B. burgdorferi B31, and therefore miss many positive cases.
How does the test work? Purchase the kit, register/activate the kit, collect the sample, and mail it back. To get results, login to get your results. This Instagram video demonstrates the easy process of completing this test.
“This is a very positive step forward for patients,” commented PA Lyme president Eric Huck. “Despite the fact that Pennsylvania has led the country in new Lyme disease cases for the past decade, many health practitioners today still balk at testing for Lyme or take a wait-and-see approach. I’ve not yet spoken with anyone who has used this test but am hopeful it will empower patients to be proactive if they get or suspect a tick bite or have symptoms that may indicate the presence of tick-borne infections.”
The following Q&As were assembled from AcuDart’s Instagram account to help with understanding the new test offering.
Q: How long does it take to get the test results after someone mails their blood sample in?
A: Results will be ready in approximately three business days after we receive the sample.
Q: How long after a known bite would this testing be accurate?
A: This type of test is an antibody test and generally requires two weeks for the body to develop enough of an immune response to be accurate. The AcuDart testing, however, is based on the superior IGeneX protocol, which is accurate earlier than most other antibody tests.
NOTEWORTHY from PA Lyme: If someone thinks they might have Lyme or a tick-borne infection from a recent tick bite, they should immediately see a Lyme literate healthcare provider to determine if treatment is needed. Waiting to test for two or more weeks after a known tick bite—without seeking out or starting treatment—is not recommended, as that delay allows the infection to spread deeper into the body and could make treatment more difficult.
Q: Do I need to stop Lyme & coinfection medication before taking the test?
A: No, you do not need to stop taking medication before testing.
Q: Is the sensitivity and specificity of these tests the same as other IGeneX tests?
A: The sensitivity and specificity of the AcuDart tests will be the same as those from IGeneX because IGeneX is the lab processing the tests. We are working with the AcuDart team to have them publish the S&S for all of the tests on their website. The AcuDart tests are essentially the equivalent of the Broad Coverage Assays available from IGeneX. They are excellent screening tests with a sensitivity of 93% and specificity close to 100%. The reason the AcuDart tests are less expensive, than say an IGeneX ImmunoBlot, is because the AcuDart tests do not distinguish IgM vs. IgG antibodies nor provide speciation. But they are a great way to determine if you have an antibody response to a tick-borne pathogen.
NOTEWORTHY from PA Lyme: “100% specificity” means false positives are very unlikely. However, a negative test does not completely rule out Lyme and other tick-borne infections. Because Lyme is immune suppressing, patients can have Lyme with low antibody counts. (*see references as end of the article)
To learn more about the AcuDart test, visit the company’s site at https://www.acudarthealth.com.
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