Deer tick bacteria DNA in joint fluid not reliable marker of active lyme arthritis, study finds
Thursday, May 12, 2011 - 21:40
in Health & Medicine
New research shows that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA—the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks—in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy.