PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Lyme Disease: Screening (12 September 2016)
Question Asked
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has plans to improve the quality of Lyme disease tests.
Asked by:
Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat)
Asked by:
Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat)
Answer
The National Health Service and Public Health England (PHE) use well established validated diagnostic tests for Lyme disease that are highly reproducible between laboratories. International External Quality Assurance schemes are in place to ensure consistency between different tests centres.
However, Lyme disease is a complex infection; we recognise that there are real challenges in diagnosis and we are further strengthening the evidence base. Commercial manufacturers and international academic groups have research programmes into improved tests. PHE continuously reviews new Lyme serology tests and will validate and implement new tests if appropriate.
Answered by:
Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (Conservative)
15 September 2016
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